tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62904392436860890812015-08-02T13:22:50.994-07:00PoppyprintHome to my ramblings on quilting, creating and family life.Poppyprinthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08251892807966340175noreply@blogger.comBlogger660125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290439243686089081.post-62672209014648329102015-07-31T06:00:00.000-07:002015-07-31T06:00:02.612-07:00Looking for that special SPARK? or maybe a giveaway?Then you're in the right place!! I'm really proud and happy to have a new partner here on Poppyprint: Canadian online shop<a href="http://fabricspark.com/"> Fabric Spark</a>. &nbsp;I met Daryl at Spring Quilt Market and was immediately drawn to her kind demeanour and mutual love of unique fabric substrates and prints. &nbsp;We recently enjoyed an unexpected visit right here in Vancouver! &nbsp;I wanted you all to know more about Daryl and her lovely shop, so asked her to share her philosophy and vision.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--jxqT5qBSVM/VbrFuUBaTbI/AAAAAAAAAys/CAxnkIp3ey0/s1600/fabricsparkbutton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--jxqT5qBSVM/VbrFuUBaTbI/AAAAAAAAAys/CAxnkIp3ey0/s320/fabricsparkbutton.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Fabric Spark started as Daryl Aitken’s passion project. She had nurtured a love of design and creative endeavors in her spare time as a sewist/knitter/crafter and in her career spanning over 30 years in advertising and marketing. For most of that time, making took a distant back seat to work, but finally last year after selling her small business, Daryl got to turn her attention back to her first love. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"><img height="320" src="http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0286/0676/files/242_HEARTA2_large.jpg?8463018704023464659" width="320" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://fabricspark.com/collections/nani-iro">Nani Iro double gauze!</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Fabric Spark was launched last January and reflects Daryl’s belief that good fabric design should spark your imagination and start the ideas flowing. “I like to look at a piece of fabric the way a sculptor looks at a hunk of marble… if it’s really great, I start thinking immediately about all of the things I’d like to make with it” That’s her buying filter for the shop – the fabric needs to inspire her, and in turn, hopefully inspire her customers....</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"><img alt="Lotta Jansdotter Follie" height="400" src="http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0286/0676/products/Lotta_Stack_f3275484-0a86-4a87-bb97-b0959f43b14f_large.jpg?v=1418668285" width="400" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="http://fabricspark.com/collections/lotta-jansdotter">Lotta Jansdotter's Follie collection</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">..and it does! Daryl provides a personally inspired write-up for just about all of the collections in her shop and even makes a few suggestions about what she’d do with it: what’s the “spark” from the fabric?&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"><img height="400" src="http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0286/0676/products/Daryl_s_picks_May_bundle.jpg?v=1430694486" width="400" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"><i>I love Daryl's May bundle - still available!</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Fabric Spark also has a great selection of <a href="http://fabricspark.com/collections/patterns">patterns</a> and W<a href="http://fabricspark.com/collections/wool-and-the-gang">ool and theGang yarn</a> from the UK, and there are <a href="http://fabricspark.com/collections/monthly-collections">monthly subscriptions</a> that deliver a specially-curated bundle of coordinating fat quarters to subscribers every month. &nbsp;She is also kindly selling autographed copies of <a href="http://fabricspark.com/collections/books/products/make-it-take-it">my book</a> from her shop at a great price (yay!).&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"><img alt="rainwalk_stack_500" height="320" src="http://145578867.r.lightningbase-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/rainwalk_stack_500-230x230.jpg" width="320" /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Often Daryl find unique limited run prints (I love her Japanese and double gauze finds!). Be sure to sign up for her newsletter at the bottom of her shop <a href="http://fabricspark.com/">homepage</a> so you don't miss out on these special fabrics. You can also keep up with shop happenings and specials on the <a href="http://fabricspark.com/blogs/news">blog</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Fabricsparkshop?fref=ts">Facebook </a>or Instagram. Fabric Spark is one of the few Canadian retailers with stock of&nbsp;<a href="http://fabricspark.com/collections/anna-graham">Anna Graham's sublime Rainwalk </a>(in organic quilting cottons and cotton canvas - pictured above). I may have just placed an order....</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">****GIVEAWAY BUNDLE****</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Thanks for reading all about my newest partner. I hope you'll check out her shop and support a fellow fabric junkie. Daryl would like to share one of her custom bundles featuring some gorgeous classics (below) with one of my readers (that's YOU). All you have to do is leave one comment below for a chance.<i>&nbsp;</i>A random winner will be chosen Monday evening (Aug.3) after what I hope is a lovely long weekend.&nbsp;<i>Please be sure your email is linked to your comment, or written into your comment - if I can't contact you, I'm afraid the random number robot will get to choose another winner.</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><br /></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B8LVww4HHhU/VbrFPp2RJhI/AAAAAAAAAyk/lMEuGppxojc/s1600/sparkgiveaway.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B8LVww4HHhU/VbrFPp2RJhI/AAAAAAAAAyk/lMEuGppxojc/s400/sparkgiveaway.JPG" title="" width="300" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><br /></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">This is my last birthday month giveaway. Good luck friends!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"></span></div>Poppyprinthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08251892807966340175noreply@blogger.com109tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290439243686089081.post-77943644152272534052015-07-29T15:46:00.000-07:002015-07-29T15:46:33.911-07:00There just aren't enough blogposts about donkeys...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;">Here's my attempt to do something about this interweb crisis. Allow me to introduce Ozark and Isabelle:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9r6eut5alPQ/VblEQ6jtBcI/AAAAAAAAAwE/6gT6U2HsbEA/s1600/DSC_0455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9r6eut5alPQ/VblEQ6jtBcI/AAAAAAAAAwE/6gT6U2HsbEA/s400/DSC_0455.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They live on my uncle and aunt's farm in Nova Scotia. We've just returned from our family summer vacation in the Maritimes, so prepare for photo posts over the next little while. It is pretty tough to take a bad photo in the Maritimes...it is such a scenic part of our country! &nbsp;Okay, so donkeys.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S8RlEd84ZgY/VblEKtLqUrI/AAAAAAAAAwA/yClRFqIdKJE/s1600/DSC_0452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S8RlEd84ZgY/VblEKtLqUrI/AAAAAAAAAwA/yClRFqIdKJE/s400/DSC_0452.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ozark is still getting used to his new stable-mate Izzy (witness ears back in top photo). Both of these cuties are rescue animals that now get to live a lovely life in a gorgeous barn and pasture, along with Bailey the horse (photo below). My aunt Karen is such a compassionate animal-lover and she's taking very good care of these donkeys. &nbsp;She recently lost her first rescue donkey Owen and everyone was very sad and missing Owen and his hilarious personality terribly. A farrier alerted her to Izzy, who was suffering terrible neglect. Luckily, Izzy recently got to come live at her new home and she's settling in just fine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_T5guslbQlA/VblFWnE287I/AAAAAAAAAwg/raBlBM4p0NE/s1600/DSC_0461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_T5guslbQlA/VblFWnE287I/AAAAAAAAAwg/raBlBM4p0NE/s640/DSC_0461.JPG" width="422" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Look at that face!!! She's a character like no other. Karen's been trying to find out what kind of donkey grows hair like a llama. &nbsp;Apparently there is a very rare breed of long-haired donkey, but a large rescue centre in Ontario thinks it unlikely that Izzy is that kind of donkey, just because they are indeed so rare.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a8XVZCwHo6o/VblFCeUTK4I/AAAAAAAAAwY/xwZ9v3mNqJ4/s1600/DSC_0459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a8XVZCwHo6o/VblFCeUTK4I/AAAAAAAAAwY/xwZ9v3mNqJ4/s640/DSC_0459.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">She likes to fill up her hair-do with dust.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lfpdQ4R-rNg/VblFY3rqkNI/AAAAAAAAAwo/YrAuwcq-AC0/s1600/DSC_0465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lfpdQ4R-rNg/VblFY3rqkNI/AAAAAAAAAwo/YrAuwcq-AC0/s640/DSC_0465.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ozark seems mystified and rather embarrassed for her.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--kjmMFBTTjs/VblGHdxTqrI/AAAAAAAAAww/GWdz5gD7JBk/s1600/DSC_0478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--kjmMFBTTjs/VblGHdxTqrI/AAAAAAAAAww/GWdz5gD7JBk/s640/DSC_0478.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They both loved the love, though. I think Ozark's ears are back just to maintain his reputation. He really does seem like a sweet fella. &nbsp;We had such a nice visit - it was my first time seeing the farm since they'd moved there. D was all smiles because she got to ride around the pasture on Karen's horse Bailey.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2YEroLiY41Y/VblGdoFtlfI/AAAAAAAAAw8/R1MjXE5cDZ0/s1600/DSC_0486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2YEroLiY41Y/VblGdoFtlfI/AAAAAAAAAw8/R1MjXE5cDZ0/s640/DSC_0486.JPG" width="420" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I took a zillion photos because a farm is too good a photographic location to pass up! &nbsp;I rode and had my own horse all through high school. &nbsp;I miss being around horses regularly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-za9tpksI_jM/VblEw_uzjLI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/ZUW2Uo653FE/s1600/DSC_0457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-za9tpksI_jM/VblEw_uzjLI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/ZUW2Uo653FE/s640/DSC_0457.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VRv_X_KYvA8/VblWXtnF3VI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/k8b_Ih6zDNc/s1600/DSC_0494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VRv_X_KYvA8/VblWXtnF3VI/AAAAAAAAAyQ/k8b_Ih6zDNc/s640/DSC_0494.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The chickens get to free range all day and bring themselves inside every evening.</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x1pbXoC2K5o/VblWVQ8S0SI/AAAAAAAAAyE/plR18AmUCo4/s1600/DSC_0480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x1pbXoC2K5o/VblWVQ8S0SI/AAAAAAAAAyE/plR18AmUCo4/s640/DSC_0480.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>This is the neighbour's old barn next door.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">After our visit we drove to a well-known lobster supper spot in Hall's Harbour for dinner. The tide was high when we arrived, but dropped about 6' during the 2 hours we were there!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOkIoGuF8j8/VblMcnUrbuI/AAAAAAAAAxk/ImnUqdZ5Jzg/s1600/DSC_0505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOkIoGuF8j8/VblMcnUrbuI/AAAAAAAAAxk/ImnUqdZ5Jzg/s640/DSC_0505.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jVULN9xrq_s/VblMFl331pI/AAAAAAAAAxY/0hq36tOYUFo/s1600/DSC_0500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jVULN9xrq_s/VblMFl331pI/AAAAAAAAAxY/0hq36tOYUFo/s640/DSC_0500.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bOsFRDkaxak/VblME-lL0oI/AAAAAAAAAxU/vztluikOVQQ/s1600/DSC_0502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bOsFRDkaxak/VblME-lL0oI/AAAAAAAAAxU/vztluikOVQQ/s400/DSC_0502.JPG" width="263" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's B with our dinner. You choose your lobsters from the tank in the gift shop, then walk them outside to the boil shack where they are prepared for you. &nbsp;D couldn't quite reconcile the tank to pot scenario, so she chose to eat lobster mac &amp; cheese instead.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I never imagined writing a post about donkeys with a side of lobster, but there you have it. More Maritime goodness to come. I hope you are enjoying your summer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Poppyprinthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08251892807966340175noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290439243686089081.post-6960694801427466072015-07-15T08:00:00.000-07:002015-07-23T15:17:37.529-07:00Cutting Garden featured in Homespun - and a giveaway!<div style="text-align: left;">If you've never had the pleasure of reading <a href="http://www.homespun.net.au/">Homespun Magazine</a> from Australia, I hope perhaps my latest quilt pattern will encourage you to order a copy! This has always been one of my fav sewing publications due to the varied projects (quilting, embroidery, sewing, collaging), gorgeous photography, matte paper, designer biographies and glimpses of quilting life DownUnder. &nbsp;I wish it were easier to find in Canada. If you search online there are a few retailers in North America from which you can order copies.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.homespun.net.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/HSP1606_Cover.jpg" height="320" width="240" />&nbsp;<img src="http://www.homespun.net.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/HSP1606_Contents.jpg" height="320" width="241" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Here's the adorable cover and a little detail of my quilt on the contents page!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;">The story of Cutting Garden is kind of a long one. You may recall that last year I worked with many neighbourhood friends (as well as others from my local quilting community) to make a <a href="http://poppyprintcreates.blogspot.ca/2014/05/a-very-special-delivery-bloggers-quilt.html">Scrappy Sprouts</a> quilt for our friend who was diagnosed with cancer. &nbsp;The quilt we made was inspired by <a href="http://traceyjayquilts.blogspot.ca/2013/05/scrappy-sprouts-for-chelsa-festival.html">a quilt my friend Tracey made</a> with sewing buddies the year before for<i> her</i> friend with cancer. &nbsp;We both feel that the block is sweet and hopeful and I know that both quilts brought so much joy to their recipients.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/19062401380" title="Cutting Garden by Poppyprint by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Cutting Garden by Poppyprint" height="500" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3768/19062401380_bc5b872a24.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The location photos in the magazine are just stunning and make me so proud to have a project included!</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Well, the editors at Homespun saw a photo of my quilt online and approached me to create a similar one, but they wanted a design with more flowers and a darker "ground". &nbsp;I first asked Tracey if she wanted the gig, after all, it all started with her block design and quilt. &nbsp;The timing wasn't right for her, but she graciously allowed me to go ahead with a quilt using a smaller version of her block. &nbsp;Because of Tracey's generosity and the origins of this quilt, I've donated my modest design commission to cancer research - that just felt right.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/19063686569" title="Cutting Garden by Poppyprint by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Cutting Garden by Poppyprint" height="436" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/351/19063686569_847754c293.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The scale of a dresden plate flower didn't work with these smaller sprout blocks, so I designed some folk-art inspired flowers that are made up of two pieced quarter circles, some bias tape applique stems and machine appliqued circles. &nbsp;I love how they look on top of those pretty rainbow sprout stalks. &nbsp;It is really difficult to showcase the scrappy low-volume background fabrics in photographs, but trust me, there are tons of prints in there!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18628086873" title="Cutting Garden by Poppyprint by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Cutting Garden by Poppyprint" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/434/18628086873_72d084cc8f.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>One of my fav things about the quilt are the two Heather Ross bumble bees on the flowers (Briar Rose fabric line).</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/19062668510" title="Cutting Garden (detail) by Poppyprint by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Cutting Garden (detail) by Poppyprint" height="500" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/543/19062668510_4f3a6109db.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This quilt is a fabulous scrap-buster. There is a lot of piecing, so it takes a while, but the results are so pretty. I cut the squares from pressed scraps using my <a href="http://www.accuquilt.com/shop/fabric-cutters-compared/go-baby-fabric-cutter/go-baby-fabric-cutter.html">Accuquilt GO!Baby </a>cutter, which saved lots of time. &nbsp;I have a little stash of leftover HST's, squares and stems that I saved for one lucky follower along with a copy of the magazine if you'd like to make this quilt yourself. &nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/19062374450" title="Scrappy Sprouts leftovers by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Scrappy Sprouts leftovers" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/341/19062374450_917161e400.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Please leave one comment below for a chance to win.</b> Your email MUST be linked to your comment, or appear in the comment itself, in order for you to win. &nbsp;I'll choose a random winner next week on my birthday: July 22nd. Good luck everyone!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><i>ETA: comments are now closed. Congratulations to comment #74 chosen by the random number generator! The Rx Quilter, you've won!! I'll email you for details on how to get your prize to you.</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Poppyprinthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08251892807966340175noreply@blogger.com89tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290439243686089081.post-40478682561368045452015-07-09T08:00:00.000-07:002015-07-20T09:10:04.509-07:00Calendar Girls!I'm so excited to share that two projects from <a href="http://www.shopmartingale.com/make-it-take-it.html">my book</a> were chosen by the editors at Martingale for inclusion in their <a href="http://www.shopmartingale.com/that-patchwork-place-quilt-calendar-2016.html">2016 That Patchwork Place Calendar.</a> It's a gorgeous calendar and it includes a full pull-out booklet of patterns, so you could make each of the featured projects!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>All photographs by Brent Kane, copyright Martingale Inc.</i></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B5Me63mLC_A/VYxZzBcRsVI/AAAAAAAAAvE/rNeTyQ0fItQ/s1600/TPP%2BQuilt%2BCalendar%2B2016--cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B5Me63mLC_A/VYxZzBcRsVI/AAAAAAAAAvE/rNeTyQ0fItQ/s400/TPP%2BQuilt%2BCalendar%2B2016--cover.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My Orange Grove quilt was chosen for August. This quilt it such a favourite of mine. I really enjoyed all of the precise piecing (which I have not tackled again since, mind you!). But the very best part is the incredible quilting that Krista Withers put into this quilt. I'm awed by her work and super proud to have this quilt in my collection.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gl6BoOVzZt8/VYxbzF16LQI/AAAAAAAAAvU/xYcXb6l9a24/s1600/orangegroveoblique.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gl6BoOVzZt8/VYxbzF16LQI/AAAAAAAAAvU/xYcXb6l9a24/s400/orangegroveoblique.jpg" width="332" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've got a collection of rainbow pine tree blocks made by the Stash Trad Bee on Flickr a few years ago. &nbsp;One of these days they need to be pieced together into a colourful version of this quilt. &nbsp; Here's the calendar spread:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MfWY3s-4G_8/VYxZudMmd9I/AAAAAAAAAvA/GWq93nh7Oko/s1600/TPP%2BQuilt%2BCalendar%2B2016--August.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MfWY3s-4G_8/VYxZudMmd9I/AAAAAAAAAvA/GWq93nh7Oko/s640/TPP%2BQuilt%2BCalendar%2B2016--August.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Also included is a gorgeous photo of <a href="http://ayumills.blogspot.pt/">Ayumi's</a> sweet Big and Little Totes - definitely one of the most popular projects from Make It, Take It that I know many shops are featuring as a sample on their book display. Congratulations Ayumi (Ms. April)!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BNQ9u5dVljQ/VYxhKXB6oTI/AAAAAAAAAvg/Gu8w-Iy69UU/s1600/TPP%2BQuilt%2BCalendar%2B2016--April.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BNQ9u5dVljQ/VYxhKXB6oTI/AAAAAAAAAvg/Gu8w-Iy69UU/s640/TPP%2BQuilt%2BCalendar%2B2016--April.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ask for the calendar at your LQS, or order directly from <a href="http://www.shopmartingale.com/that-patchwork-place-quilt-calendar-2016.html">Martingale</a>! They're available now (and make the perfect gift for your quilty friends, or a great door prize for your December guild meetings). &nbsp;Better yet, leave a comment below for your chance to win one from me. Your email address must be linked to, or included in, your comment in order to win. &nbsp;I'll randomly pick a winner on July 20th. &nbsp;Good Luck!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>ETA: Comments are now closed. Congratulations comment #13. Jen, you've won the calendar!&nbsp;</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Poppyprinthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08251892807966340175noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290439243686089081.post-26210015040825671792015-06-30T08:00:00.000-07:002015-06-30T08:00:04.297-07:00Pink45Over 18 months ago I put this little baby quilt together at retreat just for fun. I had some leftover HST's from another project, so I grabbed some coordinating yellow, pink and orange stash fabrics to cut into charm squares. &nbsp;Along with the perfect flannel backing, I folded the quilt top over a hanger where it's been resting comfortably for all that time just waiting for a baby girl.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/19222320296" title="Pink45 by Poppyprint by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Pink45 by Poppyprint" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/296/19222320296_6916d8e174.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Pink45 measures 31 x 40. Perfect for baby rolling over practice on the floor.</i></div><br />When I heard the news that my neighbour's daughter was expecting a girl, I was super happy (and did some patting myself on the back) that this little number was ready to go. &nbsp;Naturally, I waited until the recent Vancouver heat wave to quilt it. Luckily, it didn't take very long...I'm super fast at this loopy swirl and it is my go-to all over FMQ pattern when I'm in a time crunch. &nbsp;The baby is coming to visit from California later this week!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/19252357791" title="Pink45 by Poppyprint by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Pink45 by Poppyprint" height="500" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/273/19252357791_72db9ea1dd.jpg" width="331" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Quilted with Aurifil 40wt yellow 2115</i></div><br />It definitely makes me shake my head that I'm gifting a baby quilt to our former baby-sitter's baby!! She's a welcome first grandchild and I hope she uses this cosy quilt right up to the last threads. &nbsp;Because it is always my wish that baby quilts will be loved, washed and loved some more, I usually attach the binding by machine so that it is extra sturdy. &nbsp;In this case, I sewed it on back to front and completed the stitching with my Pfaff topstitch foot (which I LOVE!). It has a fence right in the middle of the foot that you can snug up to the fabric edge, and a wide needle opening so that you can move the needle over a few ticks to the left or right of centre (depending on what side of the fence needs the stitching). You can see what you're doing and it's a breeze to get a nice, straight topstitch line.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/19060912448" title="Pink45 by Poppyprint by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Pink45 by Poppyprint" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/303/19060912448_4a1659d8f1.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Donkey from Violet Craft's sweet Madrona Road line. Also pictures is some Lizzy House Castle Peeps &amp; Pearl Bracelets and Happy Zombie Happy Mochi Yum Yum.</i></div>Poppyprinthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08251892807966340175noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290439243686089081.post-41010851358675346352015-06-26T17:11:00.004-07:002015-06-26T17:11:39.343-07:00Alaska Photo Essay Part II - Juneau and KetchikanBonus for us, our cruise aboard the Celebrity Infinity gave us the opportunity to see TWO glaciers! That's right, in Juneau one can take a public bus for a couple of bucks, then walk a mile and a half to the Mendenhall Glacier. So four of us did. The sun even came out!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18941487055" title="Untitled by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="500" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/458/18941487055_215fabd93c.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Handy location right beside the bus loop in Juneau.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18882666776" title="Juneau, AK by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Juneau, AK" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/492/18882666776_62a93ff673.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The walk along the highway from the last bus stop to the glacier was pretty enjoyable!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18288325983" title="Mendenhall Glacier from the highway approach by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Mendenhall Glacier from the highway approach" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/416/18288325983_8a55b4c259.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Our first glimpse from the road!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18286460454" title="Mendenhall Glacier &amp; Nugget Falls by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Mendenhall Glacier &amp; Nugget Falls" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/447/18286460454_74ae751756.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>This is the view from the visitor's centre. We took the short hike along the shoreline to Nugget Falls, which you can see on the right side of the picture.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18911981411" title="Mendenhall Glacier by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Mendenhall Glacier" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/493/18911981411_5f77c4d5b8.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Great glacier viewing from the sandbar below the falls.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18882935816" title="At the Mendenhall Glacier &amp; Nugget Falls, Juneau, AK by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="At the Mendenhall Glacier &amp; Nugget Falls, Juneau, AK" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/383/18882935816_62374d84d8.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The "I was there" shot, photo credit: Dana Michaelson</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18723225499" title="Nugget Falls, Juneau, AK by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Nugget Falls, Juneau, AK" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/451/18723225499_e86609c9cf.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>This is the "Sindy was there" shot ; )</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;">We lucked out and got a great cab driver back into Juneau who took us to a spot where we saw over 30 eagles in the tree tops, surveying the town landfill (which was out of view). We had a great seafood lunch, then we wandered around town, visited the beautiful <a href="http://www.changingtidesalaska.com/">Changing Tides </a>quilt shop located in a historic building-turned-mall downtown and then made our way back to the ship. &nbsp;Here are a few pics from my saunter. The town is built up a steep slope, so some folks have a very long staircase walk to get home instead of a sidewalk! On one of the higher streets in town, the steel grate sidewalk is cantilevered out over the slope beside the road.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18723261459" title="Juneau, AK by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Juneau, AK" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/561/18723261459_72b6f2939e.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18904201522" title="Juneau, AK by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Juneau, AK" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/391/18904201522_01015da5e7.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>For such a small town, it was exciting to spot three independent book sellers!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18721806000" title="In Juneau, AK by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="In Juneau, AK" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/277/18721806000_5f7f71bbb5.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18721849998" title="Stitch at Sea Alaska 2015 by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Stitch at Sea Alaska 2015" height="331" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5479/18721849998_01aba394f9.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18740079599" title="Juneau, AK by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Juneau, AK" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/516/18740079599_04f193aa9b.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I don't envy the homeowners at the top of this staircase on grocery day!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18738652448" title="&quot;Row housing&quot; in Juneau, AK by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="&quot;Row housing&quot; in Juneau, AK" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/408/18738652448_25f297559a.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I love that these homes are connected by an elevated walkway sidewalk to their front doors.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18738769608" title="In Juneau, AK by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="In Juneau, AK" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/411/18738769608_1553d94524.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The letter-carrier benefits from mail boxes at the bottom of the stairs!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18926578965" title="Garden in Juneau, AK by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Garden in Juneau, AK" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/370/18926578965_9208d860bf.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>A curb-side garden....condensation catchers or to keep birds out?</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18738974360" title="In Juneau, AK by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="In Juneau, AK" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/287/18738974360_2a3ac3ce28.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>This truck just seems to personify Alaskan fishing town.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18739055448" title="Juneau stairs by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Juneau stairs" height="500" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/449/18739055448_58834cf555.jpg" width="331" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I took this staircase back down to the pier and our ship.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Next stop, Ketchikan! I was there 10 years ago on a cruise with my whole family, celebrating my parents' 40th wedding anniversary. The town was pretty much as I remembered it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We only had 30 minutes to snap a few shots of town before Katie, Joan and I had a date with a zipline at <a href="http://rainforestcanopyzipline.com/">Southeast Exposure</a>. &nbsp;We weren't quite sure what to think when the owner of the company met us on the dock in a walking cast and crutches! She assured us that her ankle injury was from a hike while searching for a lost dog. That might have been the moment Joan started getting a little shaky.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18921738112" title="DSC_0095 by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC_0095" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/319/18921738112_7dd2a0c8a6.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18900807876" title="Ketchikan, AK by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Ketchikan, AK" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/531/18900807876_c2d5cf5ce9.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The view as we pulled into the very long pier that can accommodate 4 cruise ships end to end.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18912876156" title="Ketchikan AK by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Ketchikan AK" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/551/18912876156_7f4dcf9f7b.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18304575344" title="Ketchikan waterfront by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Ketchikan waterfront" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/440/18304575344_96c147b9a6.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Chief Johnson welcomes people to town from his statue on the pier 3 entitled "The Rock" by Dave Rubin.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18740992589" title="Creek Street, Ketchikan by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Creek Street, Ketchikan" height="331" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3884/18740992589_9dee373409.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ketchikan's infamous Creek St., where back in the day a fella could find whisky and the company of a 'lady' to take his mind off of the incessant rain.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">And now onto our adventure in the trees!! &nbsp;We were so lucky, only the three of us signed up for ziplining so we had the entire course to ourselves along with our fun guides Jeff and Cameo. We gasped, we laughed, we screamed. It was an awesome afternoon.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18739572030" title="Southeast Exposure Zipline Trek, Ketchikan by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Southeast Exposure Zipline Trek, Ketchikan" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/308/18739572030_9862f79b0c.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Harnesses, check!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18306691533" title="Southeast Exposure Zipline Trek, Ketchikan by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Southeast Exposure Zipline Trek, Ketchikan" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/559/18306691533_a8afa6a27a.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The safety talk. I just love their faces as Jeff demonstrates falling off (and getting back onto) the platform above us.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18306656003" title="Southeast Exposure Zipline Trek, Ketchikan by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Southeast Exposure Zipline Trek, Ketchikan" height="500" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/536/18306656003_a5ba1140d6.jpg" width="331" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>First stop, the ropes course!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18741224479" title="Southeast Exposure Zipline Trek, Ketchikan by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Southeast Exposure Zipline Trek, Ketchikan" height="500" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/441/18741224479_c5359f24c7.jpg" width="331" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Cameo sends Katie off on her first zipline!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18739825420" title="Southeast Exposure Zipline Trek, Ketchikan by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Southeast Exposure Zipline Trek, Ketchikan" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/378/18739825420_eef8a1195e.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Look who's conquered their fear and having a blast now!!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18930468101" title="Southeast Exposure Zipline Trek, Ketchikan by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Southeast Exposure Zipline Trek, Ketchikan" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/295/18930468101_9390d56c2f.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>This is an incredible 700 year old cedar that was part of our the zip trek through the forest. It was pretty humbling to stand "in" this magnificent tree.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18912348866" title="Southeast Exposure Zipline Trek, Ketchikan by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Southeast Exposure Zipline Trek, Ketchikan" height="331" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3889/18912348866_11e2926500.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Just a short stroll over a wobbly bunch of 2 x 4's about 40' off the ground. No biggie.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18941607771" title="DSC_0122 - Copy by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC_0122 - Copy" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/297/18941607771_a108a44f3a.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Here comes Joan!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18751138978" title="Docks at Southeast Exposure, Ketchikan, AK by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Docks at Southeast Exposure, Ketchikan, AK" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/304/18751138978_55eef21e10.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The second to last line takes you out to this 30' tower in the ocean!! So cool!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18752789509" title="Southeast Exposure Zip Trek by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Southeast Exposure Zip Trek" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/480/18752789509_eb6ce32703.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Jeff's doing some maintenance while we're out there.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18316480254" title="Southeast Exposure ziptrek, Ketchikan, AK by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Southeast Exposure ziptrek, Ketchikan, AK" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/272/18316480254_1d1bc7b44e.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And Katie's off to terra-firma once again.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18941478965" title="Southeast Exposure Ziptrek by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Southeast Exposure Ziptrek" height="500" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/296/18941478965_83d0a44600.jpg" width="281" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>After our zipping, I took a little climb up the 55' wall. It's been ages since I did any climbing and it was super fun until my right hand started to cramp. &nbsp;I managed to make it all the way to the top and ring the bell, yay!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;">And, that's pretty much it, folks! &nbsp;The week was beyond wonderful and I'm feeling incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to spend it with such nice women. The balance of creative time, fine dining, dancing, discovery and excellent company was just right. &nbsp;I never cracked my novel, but that's okay....I've got some beach time coming up this summer. &nbsp;Hope you enjoyed this glimpse into our Stitch at Sea.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div>Poppyprinthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08251892807966340175noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290439243686089081.post-27031691905751114742015-06-24T13:04:00.001-07:002015-06-24T13:04:33.089-07:00Stitch at Sea Photo Essay 1: Vancouver - Hoonah - Hubbard GlacierReady for some "I went on a cruise to Alaska and all I took were these glacier photos" pictures? I promise they won't all be ice. A few of us went ziplining, too! &nbsp;I didn't have occasion to use my big camera too much on the ship, but I tried to take higher quality photos than iphone shots when we were in ports. &nbsp;I'm going to share some with you in this post from our 7 night cruise from Vancouver to Alaska aboard the Celebrity Infinity.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/19038348066" title="Hoonah, AK by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Hoonah, AK" height="331" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3735/19038348066_bc41b669fc.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Pulling away from Canada Place</i></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18876990970" title="Vancouver's sulphur piles by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Vancouver's sulphur piles" height="331" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3759/18876990970_7519273a3c.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We make the yellow crayons in Vancouver ; )</i></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18753810918" title="Leaving Vancouver under the Lions Gate Bridge by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Leaving Vancouver under the Lions Gate Bridge" height="375" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/466/18753810918_674ebffb7d.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We left at a low tide, under sunny skies on Saturday, June 7th. We're just about to sail under the Lions Gate Bridge.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/19038602816" title="Hoonah, AK by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Hoonah, AK" height="331" src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3880/19038602816_5881415f9a.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The next morning we were all set up and sewing by 9:00. Design wall batting supplied by <a href="http://www.pellonprojects.com/">Pellon</a>. We had an entire day at sea to work on our Improv Under the Influence quilts using gorgeous Oakshott colourshott shot cottons!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18877630140" title="Hoonah, AK by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Hoonah, AK" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/376/18877630140_864cab51c3.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>On the afternoon of day 3, we reached our first port of call, Icy Straight Point at Hoonah, AK. The ship anchored offshore and we took a short 10 minute ride to the wharf in lifeboats.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18877382680" title="Hoonah, AK by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Hoonah, AK" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/414/18877382680_aaac8976da.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Cannery has been converted to museum displays and shops. It was there that the lovely couple that run <a href="http://www.hibearnationalaska.com/">HiBearNation</a> Quilt Shop met us with generous goodie bags and welcoming smiles.&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18442428644" title="Hoonah, AK by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Hoonah, AK" height="500" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/508/18442428644_1a0d0c2ce4.jpg" width="331" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/19038895936" title="Hoonah, AK by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Hoonah, AK" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/485/19038895936_34435402b5.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The old and the new. Our Celebrity Infinity anchored off Ice Straight Point</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18877579460" title="Hoonah, AK by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Hoonah, AK" height="331" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/4/3791/18877579460_b4791f3800.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Lots of fishing boats in this small town marina...this one was drydocked for storage/repair.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18877798510" title="Hoonah, AK by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Hoonah, AK" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/286/18877798510_0ff1d4861b.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/19065609745" title="Hoonah, AK by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Hoonah, AK" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/516/19065609745_248d5f987c.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Looking across the harbour from town to the native cemetery&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18877917500" title="Hoonah, AK by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Hoonah, AK" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/377/18877917500_98faee3e30.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Mama Bear, Papa Bear and Baby Bear benches in Hoonah</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;">We departed in the early evening for the long cruise north to the Hubbard Glacier. The seas were rough and I was awaken about 2:00 a.m. thinking I'd likely roll out of bed! The naturalist on board told us the ocean was 5000' deep out there, so big rollers were to be expected until we cruised back over the continental shelf into Yakutat Bay, then further up into Disenchantment Bay. &nbsp;Captain Michael was able to get the ship within a mile of the glacier's terminus - apparently a first for this cruising season. Lucky! &nbsp;Captains have to be very cautious as icebergs that have calved off the end of the glacier can be the size of 10-storey buildings and can shoot up from under the water at unpredictable angles after falling off the glacier's terminus.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Although the weather was overcast and raining, the glacier was super impressive. It is truly difficult to capture it's massiveness in photos, though. &nbsp;You can get some idea from this shot (remember, we are a mile from the ice!).</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18445014183" title="Hoonah, AK by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Hoonah, AK" height="331" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/4/3812/18445014183_10b6663a76.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I moved around the ship as it slowly rotated in the bay, allowing guests on all sides of the ship to see the glacier. I spent some time up on the open-air top deck, in the Constellation lounge where the naturalist was speaking over the sound system sharing glaciological and historical facts and on the balcony of some friends. &nbsp;The glacial ice takes about 400 years to travel to the terminus from the zone of accumulation 122 km inland from the sea (so says Wikipedia). &nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aAHvFX3db4U" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/19068927081" title="Hoonah, AK by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Hoonah, AK" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/435/19068927081_4ac2e2f544.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I was really hoping to see that enormous chunk fall into the sea way down there, but no luck!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18878028220" title="Hoonah, AK by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Hoonah, AK" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/558/18878028220_5637b23a1b.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>This "bergy bit" was floating beside the ship in the silt-laden sea. The colours would have been much prettier if the sun was out, but the striations in the ice are pretty awesome!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18721067240" title="Iceberg, Hubbard Glacier, AK by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Iceberg, Hubbard Glacier, AK" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/472/18721067240_76502e0025.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Here's another massive iceberg beside the ship - if only we could see how big it is below the water, where the other 90% of it is hidden. &nbsp;Glacial ice is actually very dirty; the ice scours and grinds the bedrock below the glacier as it moves downslope, assimilating the rock into the ice flow and carving a valley under the glacier as it goes.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18722540979" title="Hubbard Glacier, AK by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Hubbard Glacier, AK" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/432/18722540979_a9fe5ee8de.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Isn't it beautiful? It's a force of nature that is truly awesome. As our ship sat in the bay, we could hear the booming, cracking and groans of the ice breaking up.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;">Stay tuned for part 2, in which we visit the Mendenhall Glacier and go ziplining outside of Ketchikan!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div>Poppyprinthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08251892807966340175noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290439243686089081.post-3720870650728348332015-06-21T15:32:00.000-07:002015-06-21T15:32:07.487-07:00Stitching at SeaAhoy! We're home from our epic week aboard the Celebrity Infinity! &nbsp;Myself and 18 quilty friends spent a wonderful week exploring the Alaskan ports of Icy Straight Point (Hoonah), Juneau and Ketchikan, plus a trip into the Hubbard Glacier which was spectacular. We were so very well taken care of by the wonderful staff aboard the ship (shout out to the electricians who kept our irons hot and our machines running!). In addition to plenty of sewing time, we ate so well, drank lots of delicious wine and coffee, danced, were entertained in the theatre and a few of us even played the slots and went ziplining (more in the next post!).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18753639858" title="Stitch at Sea Alaska 2015 by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Stitch at Sea Alaska 2015" height="500" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/345/18753639858_6d34b43d67.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This embroidery hoop was my surprise for all of the Stitch at Sea Alaska participants. I drew up the design and had my pal <a href="http://www.happysewlucky.com/">Berene</a> tidy it up in Illustrator so that I could print it directly onto white Essex linen through my inkjet (I cut the linen to 8 1/2" x 11" pieces and ironed them onto freezer paper. If you set your printer to 'cardstock' it will grab the thickness of the linen + freezer paper and feed it through!).&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18942700965" title="Our Stitch at Sea classroom by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Our Stitch at Sea classroom" height="375" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/374/18942700965_562f0cf560.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">conference room Beta - our studio for the week (design walls/batting supplied by Pellon!)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I taught two workshops on the cruise for a total of 9 hours of instruction, but we had many more hours of free sewing (one night at sea several intrepid quilters stitched until midnight!). First we played with the luscious <a href="http://oakshottfabrics.com/">Oakshott</a> colourshotts which I had kitted into four Alaskan-themed colourways for my Improv Under the Influence technique class. Students had their choice of Midnight Sun, Northern Lights, Glacier or Fireweed. You can see the results here (sadly, too windy for an outdoor photo, so we took over the Grand Staircase inside the ship).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18751505548" title="Improv Under the Influence workshop by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Improv Under the Influence workshop" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/313/18751505548_239327c17f.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Most people stuck with the "Chess on the Steps" layout, but as you can see, a few took my encouragement to try alternate layouts for their improv borders.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The second workshop was much more precise: the <a href="http://www.poppyprintcreates.blogspot.ca/2015/06/soon-well-be-stitching-at-sea.html">mini Lonestar Circle</a>. We were all feeling the effects of a week at sea, being well fed and toured around. &nbsp;People chose their Cotton &amp; Steel FQ sets I'd curated, cut their strips and started piecing, but we didn't get far enough for photos, really. On our final day, the sun was shining through the Inside Passage and most of us chose to pack up our supplies and head up to the top deck to enjoy some stitching in the sunshine while keeping an eye out for whales. &nbsp;Many of us were rewarded with Orca sightings! I saw a baby jump fully out of the ocean (I thought it was a porpoise), but then the mama's massive dorsal fin appeared, followed by her tail. I was super excited to have my first "Orca in the wild" sighting! &nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">More photos and stories coming....but first a word from our sponsors:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Over the previous few months I contacted several folks in the industry and was able to put together some fabulous goody bags for everyone, in addition to collecting enough incredible door prizes that each quilter went home with a bonus as well. Special thanks to all of these generous sponsors!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.aurifil.com/"><img height="95" src="https://www.islandbatik.com/media/uploads/2013/04/26/images/Aurifil-logo_png_300x300_q85.png" width="200" /></a>&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://lovepatchworkandquilting.com/"><img alt="Love Patchwork &amp; Quilting" height="57" src="http://www.lovepatchworkandquilting.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2014/03/cropped-header13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://westminsterfibers.com/"><img height="133" src="http://www.westminsterfibers.com/images/rowanfabric.png" width="200" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.pellonprojects.com/"><img alt="Pellon Projects" height="120" src="http://www.pellonprojects.com/wp-content/themes/pellon/images/logo-big.png" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.colonialneedle.com/"><img alt="rox_LOGO_100" height="157" src="http://www.colonialneedle.com/assets/images/rox_LOGO_100.jpg" width="200" /></a>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<img alt="Oakshott fabrics" height="35" src="http://www.oakshottfabrics.com/images/general/Oakshott-fabrics.png" width="200" />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.soakwash.com/"><img src="https://media.licdn.com/media/p/1/000/0b5/2d9/3a6f289.png" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.quiltersconnection.ca/"><img height="76" src="https://quiltersconnection.ca/wp-content/themes/quilters-child-theme/images/logo.png" width="200" /></a>&nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="http://www.shopmartingale.com/"><img height="60" src="http://thermoweb.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Martingale-Logo-400x121.jpg" width="200" /></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img 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" 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width="200" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.stitchandbobbin.com/"><img src="https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/10614132_793818323996323_8032691584843211287_n.jpg?oh=0d31d3795097f96315cd376c42abf8d5&amp;oe=561F0934" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Poppyprinthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08251892807966340175noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290439243686089081.post-74803715085737886282015-06-18T09:03:00.000-07:002015-06-18T09:03:00.471-07:00Spark Your Summer Creativity!<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="mcnImage" shrinktofit="true" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/d271669cc7b5d092b2816391b/images/f8cc229a-a03a-4a85-adf4-d628cf9b0676.jpg" style="border: 0px none; display: inline !important; height: 201px; max-width: 3641px; outline: none medium; padding-bottom: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: bottom; width: 564px;" width="564" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm very excited to share that Poppyprint has a new partner, another wonderful Canadian shop called <a href="http://fabricspark.com/">Fabric Spark</a>. &nbsp;I met owner Daryl while at Quilt Market in Minneapolis. Based on the incredible prints she was perusing on the show floor, I know there are very exciting things coming to her shop over the summer. Daryl is a wonderful fabric curator - her shop is very unique and full of delightful finds. &nbsp;Like brand new <a href="http://fabricspark.com/search?type=product&amp;q=chambray">Andover Chambray in 5 gorgeous colours</a>!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We'll soon have a giveaway and proper introduction to Fabric Spark, but for now I wanted to share their 2015 Summer of Fabric Love promotion to give you the opportunity to sign up for the newsletter. You don't want to miss out! &nbsp;Just enter your email address in the box at the bottom of the shop's front page.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Cotton + Steel Tinsel Snow Globes Teal" src="http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0286/0676/products/5018-1_large.jpg?v=1434139388" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Eeeep! Cotton &amp; Steel Snow Globes just in!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This weekend, free shipping to Canada and $5 flat rate to the U.S. (a great shopping deal for Americans as your dollar is worth so much more here; it's like getting an instant 20% discount on everything you buy!) using promo code FREESHIP.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Happy shopping!</div>Poppyprinthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08251892807966340175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290439243686089081.post-85967438452565149412015-06-04T12:22:00.002-07:002015-06-04T12:22:23.634-07:00Soon We'll Be Stitching at Sea!In 3 more short sleeps (short being the operative word...I have SO much to do!), there will be 19 excited quilters boarding the <a href="http://www.celebritycruises.com/ships/celebrity-infinity?shipCode=IN&amp;cid=ps_gcn_infinity%20ship_q4ps_1110">Celebrity Infinity</a> in Vancouver. We're bound for a week of sewing and so much fun in Alaska! &nbsp;Personally, I am getting ridiculously excited about my first ever <a href="http://rainforestcanopyzipline.com/">ZipTrek adventure</a> in Ketchikan. One of the platforms is a 30' tower out in the water that we'll zip to and from! <br /><br />On the cruise, I'll be teaching two workshops over the course of our "at sea" days. &nbsp;Altogether we'll have about 18 hours of classroom time, so everyone should be able to get their two wall hanging quilt tops together. &nbsp;However, if people choose to visit the spa, take a dip in the amazing top deck pool, scan the horizon for whales or play bingo all afternoon, those are all options too.<br /><br />Here's the sample I just finished for our Lonestar Circle Mini class. It's the third one I've made, adapting <a href="http://lilysquilts.blogspot.com/">Lynne's</a> lapsized pattern from <a href="http://www.shopmartingale.com/make-it-take-it.html">Make It, Take It</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/17840880224" title="Lonestar Circle mini by Poppyprint by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Lonestar Circle mini by Poppyprint" height="500" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/284/17840880224_caafd5068a.jpg" width="331" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18437052366" title="Lonestar Circle mini by Poppyprint by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Lonestar Circle mini by Poppyprint" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/370/18437052366_3c1fb7c929.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Again, I used Cotton &amp; Steel (some brand new prints I scored at Quilt Market sample spree, plus two older ones). The background is Essex yard dyed linen and the backing and binding are a classic (as in, it's really old, please don't ask me where I got it!) Amy Butler floral from Ginger Bliss that is such a perfect match, I think I might have to mash up all of these prints again in another project! &nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/18463627515" title="Lonestar Circle mini by Poppyprint by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Lonestar Circle mini by Poppyprint" height="331" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8850/18463627515_68f3931046.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's quilted with a sweet, soft pink Aurifil thread in 28 wt.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This project is fun to make and I've got a few tricks to share with my students about matching those pesky points on bias seams. Our other project, my <a href="http://poppyprintcreates.blogspot.ca/2014/12/improv-under-influence-workshop.html">Temperature Check</a> improv quilt will be a welcome break from the precision work. There's something for every quilter on this cruise!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'll try to share along the way with Instagram, but there is no free wifi on the ship and quite frankly, I'm looking forward to a week focussed on my surroundings. If we find wifi in a port along the way, I'll show you some of the shenanigans we are bound to get up to! &nbsp;Otherwise, stay tuned for some photo essays later in June.</div>Poppyprinthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08251892807966340175noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290439243686089081.post-9248890640700957832015-05-27T22:00:00.001-07:002015-05-27T22:00:11.206-07:00My First Trip to Market!<div style="text-align: left;">I've hardly been home since International Spring Quilt Market a couple of weeks ago. The entire trip - the experience of sample spree, meeting up with friends old &amp; new, cycling around Minneapolis, checking out upcoming fabric lines, admiring gorgeous quilts, helping <a href="http://www.freshlypieced.com/">Lee</a> set up her booth, signing books, delivering my schoolhouse to a packed room (they actually sat on the FLOOR!) - ALL of it was simply fantastic. I didn't take my camera, so I only have cell phone images, most of which I shared on Instagram.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="pat sloan and krista" data-mce-src="https://cascade.madmimi.com/promotion_images/0950/7664/original/pat_sloan_and_krista.jpg?1432760246" data-mce-style="border-width: 0px;" height="297" shrinktofit="true" src="https://cascade.madmimi.com/promotion_images/0950/7664/original/pat_sloan_and_krista.jpg?1432760246" style="border-width: 0px;" width="400" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Finally, we meet!! Pat Sloan!! I love this picture. Pat was at market promoting her 31st book - we were at the beautiful Martingale booth for her signing of <a href="http://www.shopmartingale.com/pat-sloans-teach-me-to-applique.html">Teach Me To Applique</a>. &nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">What a thrill to meet industry lovelies like <a href="http://www.patsloan.com/">Pat Sloan</a>, <a href="http://pamkittymorning.blogspot.ca/">Pam (Kitty Morning) Vieira-McGinnis</a> and <a href="http://alexandersonquilts.com/">Alex Anderson</a>. These women are professional, successful, kind and supportive. I could not believe their enthusiasm for supporting a relative newbie like me. So nice. &nbsp;I find myself smack in the demographic middle of the modern quilt bloggers in their 30's and the industry mavens with years of experience ahead of me. I must say that the example set by the likes of these three women is something to strive for. There is definitely room in the industry for all of our creativity to co-exist and it was exciting to share my work with positive, successful role models like them.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/17993409880" title="Spring Quilt Market 2015 by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Spring Quilt Market 2015" height="500" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7787/17993409880_29b15fde7f.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>A tiny portion of the Sample Spree line up a full 2 hours before the doors were set to open!</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>If you aren't familiar with the twice yearly International Quilt Market, it is a "trade only" event. It is an opportunity for buyers to see all of the new products and place orders with suppliers. The entire day before the show floor opens, schoolhouse presentations take place in conference rooms. &nbsp;They cover everything from industry trends, new fabric lines and new publications, to point of sale systems. &nbsp;Since this is my first book and my presentation was at the end of a very long day, I was worried about talking to an empty room. I begged all of my blogging buddies to come and fill seats....I needn't have worried as most of them ended up sitting on the floor! &nbsp;My heart rate went up when I saw how many people were cramming into the room and I ended up talking a mile a minute about the book projects and finishing up way early! &nbsp;Feedback from shop owners was excellent, though - they love the projects and appreciated the companion sales sheet with workshop suggestions that I had prepared for them<i> (if you are a shop owner and would like me to email you a copy, please let me know in a comment below!).</i><br /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/17560558893" title="Spring Quilt Market 2015 by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Spring Quilt Market 2015" height="500" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7729/17560558893_2898a46b09.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Sharing my windowed zipper demo</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Having the opportunity to meet more of the wonderful staff members of Martingale was really great. So many people there have helped me, and continue to do so, with Make It, Take It. Their experience and preparation for Market was very evident in the smooth running (and massive attendance) at all of their schoolhouse presentations and book signings. &nbsp;They had shop owners sign up in advance for the book signings at the Martingale booth. This gave authors the opportunity to share a quick little demo to about 5 people at a time, sign their books, then greet the next folks. I showed step by step how to create a windowed zipper since that is a pocket feature in both the Ultimate Equipment Tote and the Knitting Needle Clutch projects in the book. One friendly shop owner from Newfoundland made my day when he said "If I get nothing else out of Market, the trip was worth it just to learn how to do this!" Awww, smiley face.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/17558497144" title="Spring Quilt Market 2015 by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Spring Quilt Market 2015" height="500" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8841/17558497144_7d7364ab10.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Speaking of smiley faces, these guys made tissue carnations ALL DAY during set up of their point of sale software booth.</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There were many, many first time meetings of people I've been friendly with on line which was so much fun. I knew that Amanda was going to be at Market on Saturday, so I brought my version of <a href="http://sometimescrafter.com/2015/04/make-it-take-it-macaroon-quilt/">Christina's <i>Macaron Delight</i></a> pattern made with Amanda's Spring Bloom fabrics. She's an absolute delight and I cannot wait to see what she'll design next for Windham.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/17994948319" title="Spring Quilt Market 2015 by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Spring Quilt Market 2015" height="500" src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7783/17994948319_68bb5afc0a.jpg" width="375" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm going to call it quits there for now. I've got a day retreat to run on Saturday and it is only 11 sleeps until we depart on our Stitch at Sea Alaska cruise. My to do list is a mile long! I hope you enjoyed this little glimpse into a first-timer's trip to Market.</div>Poppyprinthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08251892807966340175noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290439243686089081.post-62998034833410225542015-05-20T06:00:00.000-07:002015-05-27T22:05:07.230-07:00The Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters - a Review & GiveawayNow here's a book I can get behind. And beside, and into. Sherri Lynn Wood's Improv Handbook is just that: a handbook. This is the most inspiring, informative and <i>useful</i> book I have in my quilting library. Honestly. I'm going to try and explain why without writing a novel (because I could, but I know you probably have other things to do today).<br /><br />Regular readers of Poppyprint know that I've been quilting for 15 years. I learned in workshops at my LQS and later, through my guilds. &nbsp;I have taken, and taught, many, many workshops. &nbsp;In the past, I have described myself as a 'schooled' quilter, meaning I learned from experienced sewists/quilters who taught me technique and skills towards making a defined pattern/block/quilt in a prescribed way. &nbsp;Over the past two years, I've moved towards exploring creative ideas beyond simply selecting fabrics for a pattern. I really feel like my technical confidence has come far enough to let me explore creating in a new way instead of just following a checklist of instructions and measurements to achieve someone else's idea. &nbsp;It is unlikely I'll ever stop using patterns altogether, but I'm ready to venture out and see what happens.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xAUsaFp1_Os/VUGPuGo9OAI/AAAAAAAAAs4/dFmwpDlK2EI/s1600/ImprovHandbook91386J.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xAUsaFp1_Os/VUGPuGo9OAI/AAAAAAAAAs4/dFmwpDlK2EI/s1600/ImprovHandbook91386J.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />Sherri's book is a guide for this exact moment in my creative life. I was lucky enough to purchase one of the limited copies at QuiltCon and have her sign it during the full day workshop that I took with her. She advised me to "be my own ruler". In the book, she discusses this more and encourages quilters to add their own voice to their work by free cutting, thereby creating a personal 'line' or signature. It is an interesting concept that I like - sort of like your own signature line or angle that could appear again and again throughout your work. As a practised "squaring upper", I've never actually built a large quilt from oddball shaped hunks of piecing or blocks that don't have squared edges....you know, the jigsaw puzzle approach. In our "Floating Squares Score" class, this is how the quilt came together. Sherri refers to this as "finding the natural fit" between two pieces of fabric and explains the concept with illustrative photos in the book.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/17130140980" title="Class work from Floating Squares workshop with Sherri Lynn Wood at QuiltCon2015 by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Class work from Floating Squares workshop with Sherri Lynn Wood at QuiltCon2015" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7720/17130140980_cf4f0a3557.jpg" width="375" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">My piecing work from the workshop (I am itching to get back to this!)</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/17129903558" title="Class work from Floating Squares workshop with Sherri Lynn Wood at QuiltCon2015 by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Class work from Floating Squares workshop with Sherri Lynn Wood at QuiltCon2015" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7662/17129903558_8ff3154d9a.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Classmate work &nbsp;</div><br />The book is a collection of 'scores', not patterns. The scores are like recipes for improv concepts that are often related to shape, like squares, strips or curves. &nbsp;You can explore each score using your own fabric that you love, but sometimes limits are put on the number of colours you can choose, or the sizes you cut. The score gives you parameters, but also permission to adjust, add, subtract or abandon certain elements as you progress. &nbsp;Almost 250 volunteers accepted Sherri's call to test her scores and possibly have their quilts included in the book. In the final edit, 22 contributor quilts are shared alongside Sherri's own work to give you plenty of inspiration. I found a certain comfort in seeing the subtle similarities in the quilts (thanks to the score), while also recognizing the unique results of each maker's work. Here are a few of the excellent examples of the Patchwork Doodle score made by some of the volunteer testers for the book (click on the photos to read the makers' feedback on the process of working from the score):<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sherriwood/13493556044" title="&quot;curve&quot; / 37&quot; x 39&quot; / Lucie Summers by Sherri Lynn Wood, on Flickr"><img alt="&quot;curve&quot; / 37&quot; x 39&quot; / Lucie Summers" height="499" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2836/13493556044_cdb59b90f3.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Curve</i>, by <a href="http://blu-shed.blogspot.ca/">Lucie Summers</a> (a star improv quiltmaker and author of &nbsp;<a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Quilt-Improv-Incredible-Everyday-Inspirations/dp/1446302946">Quilt Improv</a>)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sherriwood/13493556644" title="Maria Shell - 36&quot; x 33&quot; by Sherri Lynn Wood, on Flickr"><img alt="Maria Shell - 36&quot; x 33&quot;" height="500" src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2923/13493556644_7f6a302839.jpg" width="479" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">By <a href="http://mariashell.com/">Maria Shell&nbsp;</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sherriwood/13493193565" title="&quot;you are here&quot; / 40&quot; x 52&quot; / Sharon O'Brien by Sherri Lynn Wood, on Flickr"><img alt="&quot;you are here&quot; / 40&quot; x 52&quot; / Sharon O'Brien" height="376" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7024/13493193565_823dc95270.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>You Are Here</i>, by Sharon O'Brien</div><br />Returning to the idea that this book truly is a handbook, Sherri not only provides parameters, encouragement and permission to explore, she also includes a lot of practical advice. &nbsp;When you create without patterns and you sew oddly shaped hunks of fabric together (many with stretchy, bias edges), sometimes crazy stuff happens. &nbsp;Detailed photos and diagrams show you what to do when your quilt ends up with a pucker or wobble that your iron can't tame. &nbsp;I know I will have to give these techniques a try. It is such a different approach to squaring everything; I like the idea of not having ruler-cut straight angled seams between the patchwork sections.<br /><br />There's also a lot of new-to-me quilting and creative vocabulary in the book. &nbsp;Phrases like "bimodal construction", "flexible patterning", "cutting from your core" and the concept of improv quilting as storytelling referencing African American quiltmakers. &nbsp;There's just so much great stuff! &nbsp;The book is 175 pages long and it is packed with quality text and gorgeous photography. It is possible I'm unable to be objective about it at this point, because it really is a game-changer of a book for me. <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">You know how children are often the creators of the most beautiful, free and colourful artwork because they just make what they like without self-restraint or critique? &nbsp;I wish I could make quilts in this same way, without censoring my choices or demanding more perfect results. &nbsp;Reading The Improv Handbook really gave me the confidence to try, and I have big plans to stretch myself creatively in the coming months and years. &nbsp;&nbsp;The work I'm doing with my Improv Under the Influence piecing technique is still ongoing, but I foresee expanding my improv skills with Sherri's guidance. I'm definitely ready to move in this direction and I'll be referring to Sherri's book, and those of my other improv mentor Gwen Marston, along the way. &nbsp;I'm also trying to adopt Sherri's method of evaluation by looking at my work and, instead of immediately identifying everything I'm not happy about, asking the following questions (we did this as a group in our workshop):</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">What surprised you?</div><div style="text-align: left;">What did you learn?</div><div style="text-align: left;">Are you satisfied or dissatisfied?</div><div style="text-align: left;">What would you change?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We all love to be our own worst critic. Try using Sherri's evaluation questions and I bet you'll immediately feel better about your amazing quilting skills! The maker of the quilt below did just that.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sherriwood/13489954825" title="&quot;Primary&quot; / 65&quot; x 51&quot; / Elisa Albury by Sherri Lynn Wood, on Flickr"><img alt="&quot;Primary&quot; / 65&quot; x 51&quot; / Elisa Albury" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7407/13489954825_935ab5df9c.jpg" width="375" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Primary</i> by<a href="http://www.stitchoutsidetheditch.com/"> Elisa Albury</a>&nbsp;is one of &nbsp;my fav quilts from the score testers. I really enjoyed Elisa's evaluation of her work, which is super honest and insightful (click photo to read it in the Flickr comment).</div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I could go on, but it's time for the giveaway before I lose you altogether. Are you eager to try something new and make your own original work, or further explore your creativity in an improvisational way? Leave one comment for your chance to win a copy of <i>The Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters</i>. &nbsp;At the request of the publisher, this giveaway is open to North American addresses only. <b>&nbsp;I request that your email MUST be linked to your comment (or appear in your comment) to win. A random winner will be selected on May 23 at 5:00 p.m. PST.</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /><i>EDITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE WINNER IS COMMENT #36: Congratulations Barbara Woods!</i><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b>Disclosure</b>: STC Craft provided me with a review copy of this book (which, like 90% of the free stuff I get through my blog, I'm passing along as a door prize in one of my future workshops/retreats since I already had my own copy!). &nbsp;Some of the quilts shown in this post do not appear in the book, however they were made by volunteer testers who have given their permission for images to be shared for promotional purposes. They're amazing, so I'm sharing them.</i><br /><i><br /></i>Have a<i>&nbsp;</i>look at the other <a href="http://daintytime.net/2015/05/01/improv-handbook-blog/">stops on the blog tour </a>as I'm sure each post will offer more inspirational photos and more chances to win your own copy!</div>Poppyprinthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08251892807966340175noreply@blogger.com82tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290439243686089081.post-11188293677762957672015-05-15T05:00:00.001-07:002015-05-15T05:00:13.870-07:00Bloggers Quilt Festival Spring 2015 - Power Nap<span style="text-align: justify;">Hello and welcome to another edition of the fabulous <a href="http://amyscreativeside.com/bloggers-quilt-festival/">Blogger's Quilt Festival:</a> the only quilt festival best enjoyed in PJ's and bare feet! I've been participating off and on in Amy's great festival for years and I always enjoy meeting new quilt bloggers and enjoying the work of old friends alike.&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span><span style="text-align: justify;">This time I'm sharing my first ever QAYG (Quilt-As-You-Go) quilt, made with upcycled, worn out work shirts of my husband's along with some chambray, linen and a few yardage scraps. I'm entering it in the Scrappy Category. This quilt was gifted to a friend of ours on the occasion of his 50th birthday last month.</span><br /><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/16950421638" title="Power Nap by Poppyprint by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Power Nap by Poppyprint" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7703/16950421638_cd0f6c483e.jpg" width="500" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/17129784121" title="Power Nap by Poppyprint by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Power Nap by Poppyprint" height="331" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8769/17129784121_d71180a6a3.jpg" width="500" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div>Most of the blocks were spiral quilted individually, then joined together into rows with narrow joining strips. The rows were then joined with wider sashing strips stuffed with a strip of batting and quilted with straight lines. Initially, I liked the idea of the red "power tie" in the centre of each improv pieced block, surrounded by shirt fabrics, so the quilt was going to be called Power Tie. Then I found out that our friend likes to take a brief nap every afternoon in his downtown office, so I renamed it Power Nap (plus, he's not a tie kinda guy anyway).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/17104374466" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Power Nap by Poppyprint by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Power Nap by Poppyprint" height="331" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8787/17104374466_6909f66af0.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>There's even a sleeve placket with button and a chest pocket left on and quilted over.&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">&nbsp;The quilt was started in a class with<a href="http://www.thequiltingedge.com/"> Marianne Haak</a> at the <a href="http://vancouvermodernquiltguild.com/">Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild </a>last fall. Before the class, I precut all of the laundered shirts into strips of various widths. Each block began with a red square-ish shape in the middle area and was built out improvisationally. At one point, I made a very traditional style log cabin with light fabrics on one corner and darker fabrics on the other. When laying out all of the blocks, that one really stuck out, so I decided to make three more and put them in the corners. I like the resulting big blue circle effect! &nbsp;Check out Marianne's blog for excellent tutorials if you would like to try this technique. It is a great way to create a big quilt, fully quilted, on a small domestic machine.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/17130464435" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Power Nap by Poppyprint by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Power Nap by Poppyprint" height="331" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7650/17130464435_7724d541dc.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br /> Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to check out the rest of the festival. You can really make someone's day by nominating a quilt for Viewers Choice sometime in the next week, then vote for your category favs when voting opens on May 22! <br /><br /><pre style="background-image: none; border: none; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><div align="center"><br /><a href="http://amyscreativeside.com/" title="AmysCreativeSide.com"><img alt="AmysCreativeSide.com" src="http://amyscreativeside.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/spring-2015-BQF-Button-e1429716312925.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div><br /></pre>Poppyprinthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08251892807966340175noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290439243686089081.post-26871081796936277262015-05-12T11:52:00.002-07:002015-05-12T11:52:28.513-07:00Just (mass)Dropping In With Some Incredible Deals!It is a bumper week on <a href="http://www.dro.ps/poppyprint">Massdrop</a>. I'm going to share a few of the drops of notions I use and love myself and fabric I wish I had! &nbsp;First up is a Clover pin set. You can choose two packages from three options: flower head (I use these for heavier construction like pouches, bags, hemming and for pinning rows of blocks together for transfer from design wall to machine), Patchwork glass head pins (my all time best pins for piecing) or Quilting glass head pins (also fine and excellent, but extra long). I've never met a Clover notion I didn't like and these pins are the best. Whenever I teach, I encourage people to use the fine glass head patchwork pins for accuracy when matching points or locking seams.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://massdrop.imgix.net/resizer/362x/product-images/MD-6521_20150328141338_5e8ae4ec7c4442ca.jpg?fm=jpg&amp;q=70" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://massdrop.imgix.net/resizer/365x/product-images/MD-6521_20150328141604_60bae3447d7dc19b.jpg?fm=jpg&amp;q=70" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The drop is 1/2 way to the lowest price of $12.99 US for two packages. That's a smokin' deal even with our exchange rate (thankfully, our Canadian dollar is on the rise!).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="266" src="https://massdrop.imgix.net/resizer/735x/product-images/MD-7739_20150510220415_dca1344de8fa4484.jpg?fm=jpg&amp;q=70" width="400" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The next awesome drop is for two pair of Karen K. Buckley scissors. If you are like me, you likely have more than enough pairs of scissors, but honestly, the large purple-handled scissors have been a game changer for me since I bought a pair last spring. They have micro-serrations that grip your fabric as they cut and cushy handles perfect if you have arthritic thumbs like me. AMAZING for cutting through multiple layers of batting as well as lightweight slippery fabric like lawn or the pre-washed chambray I just cut out. &nbsp;All of my current embroidery scissors have dulled at the tip, so I'm going to join this drop for the two small pairs now that the cheapest price has been unlocked and they are 40% off MSRP (this drop is open for 6 more days). Check out the video of Karen introducing her scissors on the <a href="https://www.massdrop.com/buy/karen-kay-buckley-perfect-scissors-set?utm_source=Sailthru&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=Community%20-%20Quilting%20-%20MAU%20%28Active%29&amp;utm_campaign=Quilting%20A%20Product%20Announcement%202015-05-12&amp;mode=guest_open&amp;referer=3VKZBT">drop page.</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There are two fabric drops on as well; Lizzy House Butterflies and Denyse Schmidt Franklin + coordinating solids. Both are gorgeous lines that work out to about $2/FQ before shipping.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="425" src="https://massdrop.imgix.net/resizer/product-images/MD-7020_20150507113905_aa9c61cc9a021c32.jpg?fm=jpg&amp;q=70" width="640" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>40 FQ of Denyse Schmidt Franklin + coordinating solids</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.dro.ps/poppyprint">Massdrop</a> is really working hard to source great deals for our community - they really do listen. Since this <a href="http://poppyprintcreates.blogspot.ca/2015/04/a-massive-massdrop-more-massive-giveaway.html">giveaway</a> I hosted, they've already offered many of the items that you suggested in the comments! Click through to <a href="http://www.dro.ps/poppyprint">their site </a>and you'll see many other active drops including thread, a cordless iron, rulers and more.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Disclosure - if you click through from this post, Massdrop will know that I sent you. I am an affiliate and from time to time they send me products to review and host giveaways. I have not received any of the products in this post - I truly do love them and use them myself. &nbsp;I'm sharing here so you don't miss out.</i></div>Poppyprinthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08251892807966340175noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290439243686089081.post-13292177124227341332015-05-08T07:00:00.000-07:002015-05-08T07:00:03.989-07:00Professional PoppyprintOne must have a professional-ish business card when one visits their first ever trade show, right? &nbsp;I've had lots of fun trading and handing out my little Moo cards over the years, but it was time for the real deal. &nbsp;Not really having a logo of my own has kept me from ordering business cards in the past.<br /><br />While writing my book I had to prepare almost 200 drawings. I enjoy hand-drawing technical things very much, but thought I should take advantage of the necessity and learn some kind of computer drawing program. &nbsp;When I attended the Fat Quarterly retreat in London a couple of years ago, <a href="http://lilysquilts.blogspot.ca/">Lynne</a> taught an introduction to Touchdraw morning workshop. <a href="http://elevenworks.com/touchdraw/ipad/">Touchdraw</a> is a very user-friendly, inexpensive, 2-D drawing program for iPad that you buy from the appstore. &nbsp;With the very small amount of information my exhausted and jet-lagged self retained from Lynne's class, I was able to trial and error my way through all of the book drawings. I also invested in an iPad stylus, which is much more accurate than fingers and a huge help. Yay!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-roMrhcGj8Zk/VUvqduqGM5I/AAAAAAAAAts/2Fhs8meFFak/s1600/logo%2Bpoppyprint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-roMrhcGj8Zk/VUvqduqGM5I/AAAAAAAAAts/2Fhs8meFFak/s320/logo%2Bpoppyprint.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />So, back to the logo. I knew I wanted a stylized poppy print of some kind, so I started with a radial design of elongated ovals. &nbsp;I figured I'd get something basic together, then ask my <a href="http://berenecampbelldesign.com/about/">design guru </a><a href="http://berenecampbelldesign.com/about/">Berene</a> for help. &nbsp;It turns out I was able to draw something all by myself that I liked very much, so I went with it! &nbsp;The ombre is kind of quilty and overall, it is pretty similar to the print you'd get if you used a stamp pad and poppy seed pod to make a print.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span id="goog_594028087"></span><span id="goog_594028088"></span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/4787605058" title="poppyprint fabric by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="poppyprint fabric" height="375" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4074/4787605058_7296a9321a.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/4787605330" title="poppyprint process3 by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="poppyprint process3" height="375" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4082/4787605330_a44636e6f4.jpg" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">My new cards arrived today and I'm very happy with them! They were ordered on <a href="http://vistaprint.com/">vistaprint.com</a>. The price, quality and ease of designing them right on their website made it a no-brainer for me. I love that you can put a photo on the back of your card and crop it however you like.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/17410575651" title="DSC_9881 by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC_9881" height="331" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8792/17410575651_bbd6fb7062.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/17384929956" title="DSC_9877 by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC_9877" height="331" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8773/17384929956_09723ce923.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm going to carry them in this PERFECT needle-felted pouch gifted to me last year by a fellow Circus Mom after the hours and hours we spent sewing together for the <a href="http://poppyprintcreates.blogspot.ca/2013/05/circus-in-wonderland-photo-essay.html">show</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Ok! I think I'm ready for market. Well, just as soon as I figure out what to say at my schoolhouse. Yikes.</div></div>Poppyprinthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08251892807966340175noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290439243686089081.post-24885647135984127682015-05-07T15:29:00.000-07:002015-05-07T15:29:37.694-07:00Sample Spree Big ToteWith the release of <a href="http://www.shopmartingale.com/make-it-take-it.html">Make It, Take It</a>, I decided to make the trip to Spring Quilt Market in Minneapolis to help promote the book. I've never been to a Market before, but I've seen enough photos and video of Sample Spree to know it is mayhem. If you haven't heard, it is a giant ballroom filled with FQ packs of all of the soon-to-be-released fabric at wholesale prices or less. You have to buy a ticket in advance for $15 to get in and some people wait in line all afternoon for a chance to be the first at the fabric manufacturer's tables.<br /><br />There are a couple of new lines that I'm interested in and truth be told I am not planning to go crazy (because really, do I need more fabric?), but I do want to be prepared. Just in case. Since you are not allowed shopping carts or rolling luggage at spree (haha!!!!), I thought a large tote would be a good idea (and experienced friends advised this, too).<br /><br />So I give you my Sample Spree Big Tote. &nbsp;This is a project in the "Take It" section of my book, designed by the very clever <a href="http://ayumills.blogspot.pt/">Ayumi Takahashi</a>. The construction is so quick and painless! It makes a great gift and there's a companion Little Tote that is perfect as a lunch bag, loot bag or small project bag.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/17410993355" title="Big Tote made by Poppyprint by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Big Tote made by Poppyprint" height="331" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7695/17410993355_9d3311c278.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It is made with some of my favourite prints (that Martha Negley Farmington feather is just so incredible!) and I quilted the outer panels to some fusible fleece. There is a fitted sheet of heavy weight interfacing quilted to the flat base panel as well. There are no pockets, zippers or closure. Just maximum fabric-buying cargo space!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/17223441060" title="Big Tote made by Poppyprint by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Big Tote made by Poppyprint" height="331" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5447/17223441060_5489a68c36.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The opening is topstitched with my go to triple-stitch in a variegated pink/yellow 28 wt Aurifil thread. The bag and handles are lined with two excellent <a href="http://turkeyshed.blogspot.ca/">Lu Summers</a> prints, Alphabetty and Weave. I purchased multiple yards of both and only have bits left...so sad!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I've made a second one to gift a friend with of some of her favourite fabrics, too. All <a href="http://www.annamariahorner.com/">Anna Maria Horner </a>prints.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/17409234852" title="Big Tote made by Poppyprint by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Big Tote made by Poppyprint" height="331" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7750/17409234852_152857fdd4.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/17411313065" title="Big Tote made by Poppyprint by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Big Tote made by Poppyprint" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7696/17411313065_0e850e80bc.jpg" width="331" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I hope I get lucky at Spree. If so, you'll be the first to know!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Just in case there are store owners reading who may be at Market, my schoolhouse presentation is in room 210B from 4:55 - 5:25 p.m. on Thursday. &nbsp;I'll be signing books and doing a little demo for folks pre-registered with Martingale at their booth #325 from 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. Friday. A second signing takes place at the Brewer booth #2019 from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Saturday. &nbsp;I hope to see you there!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">People of Minneapolis (or those who have visited before) - What should I do/see/check out downtown if I have some time? I've never been!&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Poppyprinthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08251892807966340175noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290439243686089081.post-10280351406450864512015-05-05T18:40:00.001-07:002015-05-05T18:40:36.815-07:00A Mom's Gotta Do What a Mom's Gotta DoFor those of us Mothers in North America, this Sunday is our BIG DAY. It is when our significant others and children wake at the crack of dawn to sneak to the kitchen, creating a masterful gourmet breakfast which will arrive on our laps in bed accompanied by lovely hand drawn cards filled with messages of gratitude and love. There will be delicious coffee or tea, French pastries, chocolate, gold and diamonds....offers of pedicures, massages, and someone else to fold the laundry.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">*******************REALITY CHECK**********************</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Just in case the above scenario fails to play out in your bedroom Sunday morning, here's a back up plan for you:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sew-sisters.com/"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vCvW5kSYWU8/VUlsF3iFH1I/AAAAAAAAAtM/e-vVq3ubQg8/s1600/Mothers%2BDay%2BSale%2B1%2B600.png" height="320" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I was never a fan of breakfast in bed anyway. &nbsp;Just bring me my laptop &amp; a latte, kids. &nbsp;The sale includes yardage on clearance, too. I might check out the <a href="http://store.sew-sisters.com/stores_app/Browse_dept_items.asp?Shopper_id=1246552128401246&amp;Store_id=807&amp;Page_id=17&amp;categ_id=621&amp;parent_ids=0,3&amp;name=Botanics+on+Sale!+">Botanics on sale</a>&nbsp;or <a href="http://store.sew-sisters.com/stores_app/Browse_dept_items.asp?Shopper_id=1246552128401246&amp;Store_id=807&amp;Page_id=17&amp;categ_id=675&amp;parent_ids=0,3&amp;name=Jewels+(New+in+Clearance)+">Lizzy House jewels</a> (great blenders!). There are some super sweet <a href="http://store.sew-sisters.com/stores_app/Browse_dept_items.asp?Shopper_id=1246552128401246&amp;Store_id=807&amp;page_id=17&amp;Sub_Department_ID=578&amp;categ_id=578&amp;parent_ids=0,3&amp;page_no=1&amp;sNode=&amp;Exp=Y&amp;Search_Dept=&amp;Search_Text=&amp;Search_Sku=">30's repros</a>&nbsp;and plenty of <a href="http://store.sew-sisters.com/stores_app/Browse_dept_items.asp?Shopper_id=1246552128401246&amp;Store_id=807&amp;page_id=17&amp;Sub_Department_ID=404&amp;categ_id=404&amp;parent_ids=0&amp;page_no=3&amp;sNode=&amp;Exp=Y&amp;Search_Dept=&amp;Search_Text=&amp;Search_Sku=">Free Spirit Designer Essential solids</a> to choose from!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Thank you<a href="http://www.sew-sisters.com/"> Sew Sisters.</a></div><br /><br /><br />Poppyprinthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08251892807966340175noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290439243686089081.post-1972170922647255012015-04-27T07:00:00.000-07:002015-05-01T15:07:54.690-07:00Macarons in Spring Bloom <div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">Hello and welcome to the Spring Bloom Blog Hop!! I've only just met <a href="http://bellacaronia.blogspot.com/">Amanda Caronia</a>, the talented designer behind Spring Bloom, but already I know she's going to make a splash in fabric design. Her bright, colourful and fresh palette are a welcome sight for spring. &nbsp;Read on to find out how you could win a FQ stack of Spring Bloom to play with!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/16661267404" title="Spring Bloom Macarons by Poppyprint by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Spring Bloom Macarons by Poppyprint" height="331" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8797/16661267404_64eab661c9.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div><br /></div>In my quest to make every contributor's project in my book, I decided to sew up a delicious <a href="http://sometimescrafter.com/2015/04/make-it-take-it-macaroon-quilt/">Macaron Quilt</a> with Amanda's fabric. <a href="http://sometimescrafter.blogspot.com/">Christina's</a> quilt design is really interesting; there are no blocks in this quilt. The macaron shapes are pieced right into a long strip of background fabric that has been cut like a hunk of swiss cheese. Once all the cutting prep was complete, I could not believe how fast this generous lap-sized quilt sewed up! &nbsp;I didn't pin any of the curves. I don't do tons of curved piecing, but when I do, I follow <a href="http://www.shecanquilt.ca/2011/12/sewing-curves-is-not-hard-seriously.html">this awesome video tutorial </a>by my friend Leanne. It works like a charm for 1/4 circles and these 1/2 oval macaron shapes.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/17283632101" title="Spring Bloom fabrics by Amanda Coronia for Windham by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Spring Bloom fabrics by Amanda Coronia for Windham" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7668/17283632101_ef44eaef74.jpg" width="375" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>As my deadline for today was approaching, I needed to figure out quilting designs. I considered vertical wavy lines right across the quilt using my machine's triple zig zag stitch set wide and long. I considered an art-deco pattern that was a combination of straight lines up the middle of the macarons and curved back down around them, echoing the shapes in thread colours that matched the fabrics. Finally, I considered FMQ my recent standard of all-over looping meanders. &nbsp;Then I had a little chat with myself that turned into a pep talk ( I'd been convincing myself I wasn't able to do all that negative space justice with my out-of-practice FMQ skills). <br /><br />I had another look at Amanda's fabric to see if there were some shapes I could adopt for quilting. I grabbed some old practice quilt sandwiches from a previous class (and said, hey, you did a great job on these practice designs, just get busy and go for it!). Seriously, I did have to pull on my big girl panties and just GO!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/17283916075" title="Spring Bloom Macarons by Poppyprint by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Spring Bloom Macarons by Poppyprint" height="331" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8716/17283916075_649030c66d.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The flowers in this print inspired my petalled paisley quilting.</i></div><br />The first thing I did was define the vertical columns between the macarons with a stitch in the ditch of the seam and then a line 1/4" away. Between these lines, I did a loopy back and forth thingy that I've always liked - I think it looks great in a long narrow space and on this quilt, sort of like the delicious cream filling for the macarons! &nbsp;Everywhere else in the negative space I quilted a sort of petalled paisley shape. &nbsp;In spots where I needed to fill to the edges, I went around with a second row of petals here and there. For now the macarons are not quilted. I'm contemplating a handstitch with coordinating perle cotton about 1/2" inside each macaron (what do you think about that?).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/16663843513" title="Spring Bloom Macarons by Poppyprint by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Spring Bloom Macarons by Poppyprint" height="331" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8797/16663843513_c4ec0cbe13.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />All of the quilting was done in one long day at Quilt By the Bay on Saturday. I think my Pfaff was running for about 8 hours! &nbsp;I'm so glad I went for it. It's just been ages since I filled so much negative space with FMQ and to be honest, I've seen so much incredible work from talented long-armers, that I had psyched myself out. &nbsp;I'm happy to say that this finish has renewed my confidence, so yay!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/17097758419" title="Spring Bloom Macarons by Poppyprint by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Spring Bloom Macarons by Poppyprint" height="331" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8774/17097758419_7102ec330a.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />Amanda's fabric makes the prettiest macaron's don't you think? Strawberry, lemon, blueberry, pistachio and raspberry flavours come to mind. &nbsp;There have been so many pretty makes with this line already. Check out the other stops on the tour to see some adorable little dresses, colourful quilts, pillows and bags. I'm excited to see <a href="http://felicityquilts.com/">Felicity's</a> quilt tomorrow and was super impressed by <a href="http://www.liveacolorfullife.net/2015/04/split-personality-spring-bloom-blog-hop.html">Cindy's cool idea</a> from yesterday!<br /><br />If you'd like a chance to win a FQ stack of Spring Bloom, leave ONE comment here (your comment must contain your email address, or link to your email to win). I'll choose a random winner &nbsp;on Thursday at 10:00 p.m. PST. Good luck!! &nbsp;<i>ETA: Comments are now closed. Congratulations Janet of WhatComesNext, you've won a FQ set of Spring Bloom!</i><br /><br />Thank you so much for sharing your lovely fabric, <a href="http://bellacaronia.blogspot.com/">Amanda</a> and Windham!<br /><br /><br />SPRING BLOOM MAKERS BLOG HOP SCHEDULE</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Lato Regular';">April 20 </span><a href="http://windhamfabsnipits.typepad.com/"><span style="font-family: 'Lato Regular';">Windham Fabrics Snip-its</span></a>, <a href="http://bellacaronia.blogspot.com/">Bella Caronia Blog</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Lato Regular';">April 21 </span><a href="http://www.wintergreenandthebee.com/"><span style="font-family: 'Lato Regular';">Leah and Bea Koch – Wintergreen and the Bee</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Lato Regular';">April 22 </span><a href="http://nellsnotions.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: 'Lato Regular';">Nell Timmer - Nell’s Notions</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Lato Regular';">April 23 </span><a href="http://jessicakdarling.com/"><span style="font-family: 'Lato Regular';">Jessica Darling</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Lato Regular';">April 24 </span><a href="http://stlouisfolkvictorian.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: 'Lato Regular';">Kristy Daum - St. Louis Folk Victorian</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Lato Regular';"> &nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Lato Regular';">April 25 </span><a href="http://www.threadridinghood.com/wordpress/"><span style="font-family: 'Lato Regular';">Sherri Sylvester - Thread Riding Hood</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Lato Regular';">April 26 </span><a href="http://www.liveacolorfullife.net/"><span style="font-family: 'Lato Regular';">Cindy Wiens - Live a Colorful Life</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Lato Regular';">April 27 </span><a href="http://poppyprintcreates.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: 'Lato Regular';">Krista Hennebury - Poppyprint</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Lato Regular';"> &nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Lato Regular';">April 28 </span><a href="http://www.felicityquilts.com/"><span style="font-family: 'Lato Regular';">Felicity Ronaghan - Felicity Quilts</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Lato Regular';">April 29 </span><a href="https://studioloblog.wordpress.com/"><span style="font-family: 'Lato Regular';">Casey York - The Studiolo</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Lato Regular';">April 30 </span><a href="http://betteroffthread.com/"><span style="font-family: 'Lato Regular';">Janice Ryan - Better Off Thread</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Lato Regular';">May 1 </span><a href="http://whip-stitch.com/blog/"><span style="font-family: 'Lato Regular';">Deborah Moebes - Whipstitch</span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: 'Lato Regular';">May 2 </span><a href="http://bellacaronia.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: 'Lato Regular';">Bella Caronia Blog</span></a> That’s a Wrap</div>Poppyprinthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08251892807966340175noreply@blogger.com95tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290439243686089081.post-70044021638912493712015-04-20T07:00:00.000-07:002015-04-20T07:00:08.228-07:00Arctic Quilting - a Northern Photo EssayIt's a thing! &nbsp;Really!<br /><br />Last fall I received the kindest invitation from the Inuvik Quilting Guild to come visit them for a lecture and two day workshop. This was a major thrill for me as I love the north, but haven't had a chance to visit the Yukon or Northwest Territories since I worked there as a geologist in the late 80's and early 90's. &nbsp;I didn't hesitate to accept the invitation for a March visit. &nbsp;After seeing <a href="http://naptimequilter.blogspot.ca/2014/03/inuvik-trip-part-1.html">Cheryl's blogposts</a> from her trip last year, I knew it was an incredible opportunity that I didn't want to miss! &nbsp;Plus we were completely ripped off winter-weather-wise in Vancouver this year and I was anxious to feel the cold in my lungs. The lure of seeing northern lights was pretty strong, too (I'll tell you right now that it was just my luck the BEST lights of the past 10 years appeared the week <i>before</i> I got up north and it was cloudy at night during my visit, so no dice on the northern lights this time).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/17005661715" title="Whitehorse, YT stopover by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Whitehorse, YT stopover" height="331" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8691/17005661715_43477cc02f.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The mighty Yukon River in Whitehorse, YT.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/16817958828" title="Whitehorse, YT stopover by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Whitehorse, YT stopover" height="331" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8695/16817958828_34f8ac8bd1.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The S.S.Klondike paddlewheeler museum vessel, Whitehorse, YT.</i></div><br />As luck would have it, my journey required an overnight stay in Whitehorse, YT. &nbsp;I loved that town in the 80's and it hasn't changed that much (at least the downtown). I enjoyed Main St. shopping and meeting the lovely <a href="http://www.quiltingunderthemidnightsun.blogspot.ca/">Viv</a>, who I've known online for several years through blogging. She was teaching a course that night at the impressive <a href="http://www.bearspawquilts.com/">Bear's Paw Quilt Shop </a>and invited me to stop in and meet her students. I just love the shop tag line: <i><b>Compassionate care for the quilt addicted.</b></i><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://inuvik.ca/wp-content/gallery/maps/westernnwtmap.gif" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Here's some reference material for you. Previously, Norman Wells was the furthest &nbsp;north I'd been for some permafrost slope stability research in '90 and '91.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>The next morning, I caught an Air North flight that would take me to Inuvik, via Dawson City and Old Crow. The twin prop <a href="http://www.flyairnorth.com/Experience/Fleet.aspx">Hawker Siddeley</a> airplane refueled at each stop, so passengers have to get off, walk across the runway and wait in the little airports for about 20 minutes before taking off again. The air hostess wears a jumpsuit and parka on this flight! &nbsp;It was a gorgeous day for flying, with clear blue skies and exceptional views.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/16819741717" title=" by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt=" " height="375" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8753/16819741717_90fb89886c.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The snow-covered airstrip at Dawson City, YT.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/16839620980" title="Aerial view of dredging piles outside Dawson City, YT by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Aerial view of dredging piles outside Dawson City, YT" height="375" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7649/16839620980_98d52dc3d1.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>My very first field job in '88 was out this way near Dawson City...these are the tailings piles of huge dredging machines that dug up the Kondike River bed searching for gold. They look much prettier covered in snow!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/16840994439" title="Untitled by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="180" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8751/16840994439_6e2f4004a0_n.jpg" width="240" /></a> &nbsp;<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/16407007613" title=" by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt=" " height="180" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8725/16407007613_55a233fec6_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Next stop, Old Crow, where the luggage is literally man-handled and your taxi is more than likely a snowmobile.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;">I arrived in Inuvik by mid-day to a very busy airport and town. It was the first day of the annual<a href="http://inuvik.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015-Final-Muskrat-Jamboree-Schedule-of-Events.pdf"> Muskrat Jamboree!</a> This is a celebration held in many northern communities. In Inuvik it marks the migration of the domestic reindeer herd to their summer grounds (in the '50's, the Canadian government was worried the northern people were going to run out of caribou, so they imported a reindeer herd from Scandinavia that is still going strong). &nbsp;Other events over the weekend included snowmobile racing, dog sled races, dancing, tea-brewing (contestants have to light a fire and boil water with no more than 10 matches), needle and thread (teams of 1 man and 1 woman run to meet each other and thread a needle), hammer and nail, log sawing and yes, muskrat skinning. &nbsp;All of the activities took place either on the frozen Mackenzie River ice road or at the beautiful new school gymnasium. &nbsp;Thanks to my generous host Shona, I was able to catch several activities during our workshop lunch break and in the evenings.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/17004822991" title="Inuvik, NWT by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Inuvik, NWT" height="331" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8720/17004822991_3a7047f20a.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Inuvik's main street</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/17001108756" title=" by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt=" " height="500" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8744/17001108756_01a5561660.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The famous Catholic Igloo Church</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/17182284211" title="Inuvialuit drum dancers in Inuvik, NWT by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Inuvialuit drum dancers in Inuvik, NWT" height="282" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8789/17182284211_c1effb32ee.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I was fortunate to see the amazing Inuvialuit Drum Dancing group perform (performers range in age from 3 to 92!). There is a video in my Instagram feed you can watch.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/16383579314" title="Inuvik, NWT March 2015 by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Inuvik, NWT March 2015" height="331" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7645/16383579314_9c1ce7b864.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The start line of the women's open snowmobile race</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/17005000771" title="Inuvik, NWT March 2015 by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Inuvik, NWT March 2015" height="331" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8694/17005000771_8ac85f03a3.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>This was where the action took place on the edge of the ice road:</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>&nbsp;food tents and some of the competitions</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/16798499767" title="Inuvik, NWT March 2015 by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Inuvik, NWT March 2015" height="331" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8745/16798499767_03c0154800.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The ladies were very serious about the hammering contest. You have to completely drive a nail with your left AND right hand. The woman in the black jacket won!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/17001107516" title="Untitled by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7628/17001107516_976bb2d985.jpg" width="375" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Here I am trying an "Eskimo donut". Shona made me.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So now you've got a bit of an idea of what was going on all around while I was in town. Now to the quilting! &nbsp;It was a busy weekend for family activities, so I was very happy that 8 members of the guild were keen to spend Friday night, Saturday and Sunday learning about modern quilting, improv piecing and improv straight line quilting. On Friday I gave a brief lecture and trunk show of some of my work and projects from Make It, Take It. Then we had a look at fabrics and finalized selections so that people could get cutting so they'd be ready to go the next morning. Everyone worked on their own versions of my Temperature Check quilt. This workshop is so much fun to teach &nbsp;- I just love to see how different student's colour choices play out as the quilt is constructed.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/16404672914" title="Untitled by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="500" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8716/16404672914_708c1b8478.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>This is a pillow cover I put together over the weekend to illustrate a different option/design for piecing the wonky borders together.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/16406884043" title=" by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt=" " height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7587/16406884043_16c4cd1797.jpg" width="375" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Megan brought very similar colours to class. We all loved her curving checkerboard!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/17005189681" title="Inuvik, NWT March 2015 by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Inuvik, NWT March 2015" height="331" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7621/17005189681_fd44fc6476.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Linda, Sara, Joanne, Bev, Arlene, Jody, Shona and Megan show off their work. Bev decided to make a tablerunner and placemats! Shona used her hand dyed fabric which was beautiful.&nbsp;</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;">The ladies also shared some stunning traditional beadwork on slippers, mukluks and a scissor keeper (that included moose hair tufting).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/17025589362" title=" by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt=" " height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7605/17025589362_cd4b4357cd.jpg" width="375" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Beadwork on moosehide with beaver fur accent.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>&nbsp;(mukluks made by Judy Lafferty from Ft. Good Hope, NWT)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/16404620154" title=" by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt=" " height="500" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8740/16404620154_45328e7174.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/16404608004" title=" by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt=" " height="500" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8700/16404608004_fdaa212ea7.jpg" width="375" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>moosehide scissor keeper featuring Caribou hair tufted flowers.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>&nbsp;Made by Lillian Wright from Inuvik, NWT.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/16404745304" title="Untitled by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7633/16404745304_2392451a80.jpg" width="375" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The guild gifted me this stunning beaded moosehide brooch that I will cherish! It smells like campfire from the natural tanning process and I absolutely love it.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The beading is exquisite (also by Judy Lafferty).</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;">The entire weekend was incredible and I'm so thankful for the opportunity - I made some new friends and had many new experiences (on Saturday night we played bingo by television. You call in when you win!). My trip was made possible by a Northern Arts Council Grant, for which I'm very appreciative. &nbsp;I'll leave you with a few more photos....</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/16818361388" title="Inuvik, NWT March 2015 by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Inuvik, NWT March 2015" height="331" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8703/16818361388_992622b802.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The municipal office where I picked up my Arctic Traveller Certificate.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/16819710157" title=" by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt=" " height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7643/16819710157_7e7f79dc79.jpg" width="375" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>All of the water pipes have to run above ground from building to building due to permafrost. This affects the roads in town (see the stairs &amp; bridge over the conduit?), so sometimes you have to drive an extra block before you cross into the next street.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/16404898664" title=" by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt=" " height="500" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8730/16404898664_6f9c780cde.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Taken for all my quilting librarian friends. The head librarian, Bev, was in my class!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/17001733226" title=" by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt=" " height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7594/17001733226_83d2959b16.jpg" width="375" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>It was a perfect -18 C</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/17005181771" title="Inuvik, NWT March 2015 by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Inuvik, NWT March 2015" height="331" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8748/17005181771_078cfc08f7.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I went in an igloo! For reals! No one is actually using this igloo, it was built for the <a href="http://inuvik.ca/special-events/inuvik-sunrise-festival/">Sunrise Festival&nbsp;</a>welcoming back the sun on January 7th after a month of total darkness.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/17005102901" title="Inuvik, NWT March 2015 by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Inuvik, NWT March 2015" height="331" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7605/17005102901_6af22d687f.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>A sled team truck.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/16818217148" title="Inuvik, NWT March 2015 by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Inuvik, NWT March 2015" height="331" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7618/16818217148_31994ee00d.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Traffic jam on the ice road as people come back to town after the ski-doo races in time for bingo! It was a $20,000 jackpot, after all.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/17005108901" title="Inuvik, NWT March 2015 by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Inuvik, NWT March 2015" height="331" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7637/17005108901_444f79e7c1.jpg" width="500" /></a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Two things you don't see often: a transport truck driving on a frozen river ice road and a Coast Guard ship high and dry on the shore.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;">I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into Canada's far north! The main thing you need to know is that quilting is alive and well a few degrees above the Arctic Circle; there are about 50 members of the guild (Inuvik has a population around 3300). &nbsp;Everyone was so warm-hearted and welcoming. Every person I passed on the street smiled or said a greeting. I love northern community.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Inuvik is a completely government-planned town which was surveyed and established in the 1950's after repeated annual flooding and erosion of the traditional settlement of Iklavik in the delta. You can read more about the town and the Gwich'in and Inuvialuit first peoples of the Beaufort-Mackenzie Delta<a href="http://inuvik.ca/"> here.</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div>Poppyprinthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08251892807966340175noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290439243686089081.post-5616293014848494432015-04-17T07:00:00.000-07:002015-04-17T07:00:04.222-07:00Quilt Lovely - An Interview with Jen KingwellYou all know Jen Kingwell's patterns: <a href="http://www.amitie.com.au/shop/Patterns/Jen-Kingwell-Designs.htm">The Circle Game, Steampunk, Chain Reaction, Gypsy Wife</a> and more. Her work is very recognizable for her inspired use of multitude prints and detailed piecing. Although I own several patterns, having won them at the Fat Quarterly Retreat in 2013, I have yet to tackle any. The closest I've come is borrowing a set of templates for Steam Punk!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://bit.ly/1Am6bjL"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I1ASzkFIqv4/VTBXqvP1L1I/AAAAAAAAAr8/TjPcgpjf-Z0/s1600/Quilt%2BLovely%2B-%2Bjacket%2Bart.jpg" height="400" width="302" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://bit.ly/1Am6bjL">By Jen Kingwell<o:p></o:p></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://bit.ly/1Am6bjL">Fons &amp; Porter/F+W; $26.99 US</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>When given the opportunity to take a peek at Jen's first ever book, I jumped at the chance. She's a quilter I greatly admire. &nbsp;Imagine my delight when I found out I could interview Jen for this blogpost - yay! I did a little research online and learned a bit more about Jen's style and technique by watching<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5TIWejbT74"> these great videos</a> filmed recently by the Fat Quarter Shop at QuiltCon. I follow Jen on Instagram so I knew that she'd recently returned home to Australia, and her quilt shop <a href="http://www.amitie.com.au/index.htm">Amitie Textiles</a>, after living in the Middle East for a couple of years. &nbsp;The Nosy Parker in me really just wanted to know how she managed to stay creative while isolated from her shop, her people and her home!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xvVFTXvChMw/VTBZtMKdKPI/AAAAAAAAAsU/w6oAFr650fg/s1600/Quilt%2BLovely%2B-%2BMrs.%2BBannister's%2BStar%2BPillow%2Bbeauty%2Bimage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xvVFTXvChMw/VTBZtMKdKPI/AAAAAAAAAsU/w6oAFr650fg/s1600/Quilt%2BLovely%2B-%2BMrs.%2BBannister's%2BStar%2BPillow%2Bbeauty%2Bimage.jpg" height="400" width="302" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Mrs. Bannister's Stars, from Quilt Lovely by Jen Kingwell</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><b>Krista</b>: Congratulations on your gorgeous fabric line Gardenvale and inspiring book Quilt Lovely, Jen! Both are firsts for you and seemed to have happened around the same time. Did your design work require a lot of discipline and planning to keep on schedule? Did you start out knowing you'd spend your time in the Middle East working on the book?<br /><br /><b>Jen</b>: <i>Thank you Krista. I'm really happy with both. I had no idea the path I was going down. Sometimes ignorance is bliss! I had to be very disciplined( not my greatest strength). After I had decided what I was doing I did set a schedule and I worked to that. I think for me that was the hardest thing. I'm an organic designer and quite often things start with a very loose idea and just grow. I frequently fall out of love with things as I go along and they have a rest in a drawer or the bottom of the cupboard but with the book I didn't have time to change my mind. Maybe that was a good thing but it hadn't stuck as I've just sidelined something I'm not happy with this week!</i><br /><b><br /></b><b>Krista: </b>You've owned Amitie quilt shop for 15 years and been immersed in quilting through teaching, selling fabric, designing patterns and running the business. How did the past 2 years living in the UAE affect your quilting? <br /><br /><b>Jen: </b><i>I would never have embarked on the book and fabric range if I was in Australia. Always so busy with "things". I had the luxury of time in Al Ain. The first year we were there we lived in a hotel. I didn't even make the bed! So spoilt. I stitched from day light to dark. It's always inspiring to be surrounded by new things. I think the colours of the desert will be popping up in a few projects in the future.</i><br /><i><br /></i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VaizhMWQxVs/VTBZtLfFuMI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/ffD0hY9r7aY/s1600/Quilt%2BLovely%2B-%2BFlea%2BMarket%2BDash%2BQuilt%2Bbeauty%2Bimage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VaizhMWQxVs/VTBZtLfFuMI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/ffD0hY9r7aY/s1600/Quilt%2BLovely%2B-%2BFlea%2BMarket%2BDash%2BQuilt%2Bbeauty%2Bimage.jpg" height="400" width="302" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Flea Market Dash from Quilt Lovely by Jen Kingwell</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><b>Krista:</b> Much of my own quilting experience and joy is shared with others through participation in my guilds and retreats. I've seen stunning examples of hand work shared online by Middle Eastern women. Did you work alone while in the UAE, or were you able to connect at all with other like-minded expats or local women?<br /><br /><b>Jen:</b> <i>I worked alone. We lived in an area where there were not a lot of expat women. Most who were there worked. It was a very "local" city and ladies in the UAE to my knowledge are not so interested in handcraft as in other parts of the Middle East. I did join the Abu Dhabi quilt guild and there were a few local ladies in the guild. The highlight of my week was to drive to Abu Dhabi to stitch with my little group, a mixed bunch! All from the UK and Scotland. These women were my lifesavers. They had all lived there for quite a while and advised me on all things UAE! More laughing and eating was done than stitching. It was so worth the 3 hour round trip.</i><br /><br /><b>Krista:</b> I really enjoyed listening to you and learning from your experience while watching the Fat Quarter Shop videos you filmed recently at QuiltCon. Now that you are home in Australia, will you be teaching regularly? Is teaching a passion of yours?<br /><br /><b>Jen:</b><i><b> </b>I had such a great day with the Fat Quarter shop team. I will be teaching quite a bit this year both here in Australia and overseas. I really enjoy meeting so many great people as I travel and I always seem to learn as much from them as them from me I think.</i><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kobF-Tb4100/VTBZqxfbRHI/AAAAAAAAAsI/IiaJdlDiIs4/s1600/Quilt%2BLovely%2B-%2BFor%2Bthe%2BBoys%2Bbeauty%2Bimage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kobF-Tb4100/VTBZqxfbRHI/AAAAAAAAAsI/IiaJdlDiIs4/s1600/Quilt%2BLovely%2B-%2BFor%2Bthe%2BBoys%2Bbeauty%2Bimage.jpg" height="400" width="302" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>For the Boys from Quilt Lovely by Jen Kingwell</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><b>Krista:</b> There is a certain vibrant, scrappy aesthetic in the work of many Aussie quiltmakers that I recognize and have always admired. What do you think is the main influence for this common approach in Australian quilt design?<br /><br /><b>Jen:</b> <i>Our quilting community is small here in Australia. Our quilting stores are smaller also and many years ago before online stores you could only purchase what your quilt stores carried. Store owners didn't have the luxury of space to stock whole ranges so you "chose" your collection. A mixed bag of fabrics and I think many of us have grown up and developed this as our style.</i><br /><i><br /></i><b>Krista:</b> The online quilting world moves quickly and there is often a feeling of urgency to make quilts and move on to the next thing. The beautiful quilts in your book are a wonderful reminder that patience pays off in the form of heirloom quilts - you even hand quilted your work instead of having everything longarmed in a hurry. What advice can you give to people in the 'just get it done' mindset about the value of slowing down?<br /><br /><b>Jen:</b> <i>I love this question. When I sit down to hand stitch it's like an enormous exhale for me. I swear I can feel my blood pressure lowering. I started to hand stitch many years ago when my girls were small. I'm a midwife by trade and worked, so in the evenings I wanted to sit with the family and share the days news.....the sewing machine was never appreciated! So hand stitching it was and I just loved it. It's easy, very cost effective as you need little equipment and it's very sociable. </i><br /><br /><i>I also love the " quiet" of hand stitching. A comfy chair, your favourite music and a window, needle, thread and fabric. That's all you need. It's hard to put into words the joy I get from hand stitching in particular hand quilting. It's like " meditation". </i><br /><br />Thank you for kindly answering all of my questions, Jen!<br /><br />Jen's fabric line <a href="http://www.amitie.com.au/shop/New-Products.htm">Gardenvale</a> is available now as precuts and I think shops are receiving yardage as soon as next week. &nbsp;It is truly a scrap quilter's dream fabric range and I look forward to adding some to my stash as a way to expand into more floral and blender fabrics. I love that the line is named for the location of Jen's shop in Melbourne - how perfect!<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fatquartershop.com/gardenvale-yardage"><img alt="Hocus Pocus Fat Quarter Bundle Deb Grogan for RJR Fabrics" src="http://static.fatquartershop.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/thumbnail/450x/602f0fa2c1f0d1ba5e241f914e856ff9/g/a/gardenvale-bundle-450_1_1_1_1_1_1.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">image from <a href="http://www.fatquartershop.com/gardenvale-yardage">The Fat Quarter Shop</a></div><br />When I receive a new book, I immediately skip all the pre-amble and head straight to the project photos. I love the matte finish paper in Quilt Lovely and the gorgeous photos of the quilts out in the real world. &nbsp;I did take the time to read Jen's Appendices to learn more about her thoughts on value, colour and scale. She's got great advice at the back of this book. &nbsp;There are several pillow and quilt patterns that are immediately do-able for the intermediate (or confident beginner) quilter. However, with rather a lot of travelling in my future, I am contemplating a slow hand-piecing project instead. I don't do "quiet sitting" very well (my elementary school report cards will back me up here), but if I'm trapped on an airplane I might as well be productive. Sometimes it is a good idea to bust out and try a challenge. I will keep you posted!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Poppyprinthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08251892807966340175noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290439243686089081.post-81805616557344613812015-04-15T08:00:00.000-07:002015-04-15T08:00:07.908-07:00Power NapHere's my latest finish: Power Nap.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/17130270365" title="Power Nap by Poppyprint by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Power Nap by Poppyprint" height="365" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8710/17130270365_704daffc0a.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />This quilt was constructed using the fun Quilt As You Go (QAYG) method. It is mostly made of upcycled old work shirts of B's, some linen, chambray and a few shirt-stripe scraps from my bins. I thought it would be fun to add the red in the centre of the log-cabinish blocks as the "power tie" to the shirts.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/17104374466" title="Power Nap by Poppyprint by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Power Nap by Poppyprint" height="331" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8787/17104374466_6909f66af0.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I even left a cuff button on - can you see it? I sewed the placket closed before piecing that sleeve into the block.</i></div><br />Marianne Haak visited the VMQG and gave us a trunk show and workshop. She is definitely the most experienced person I know using the QAYG method. Check her <a href="http://www.thequiltingedge.com/">blog </a>for detailed tutorials on every step of the process and admire her gallery of quilts. If you want to create a large quilt on a small machine, then this is a great way to go. &nbsp;All of the blocks are quilted individually, squared up, then joined with strips. If you are creative with your piecing and plan a little bit, you can hide your joining strips very well! &nbsp;I used skinny strips to join the blocks into 3 rows, then wider strips (stuffed with a strip of batting) to join the rows and elongate the quilt a little bit so that it wasn't perfectly square. It ended up about 58" x 62".<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/16923051537" title="Power Nap by Poppyprint by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Power Nap by Poppyprint" height="500" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8788/16923051537_d5be132102.jpg" width="331" /></a></div><br />The first two blocks that I built in the class were very random and improv. I made a few more like that and then decided to make corner blocks in a more traditional dark/light log cabin. I like to organize my chaos a little bit ; ) &nbsp;All of the blocks were quilted with Aurifil 40wt thread in cherry red. Most of them have a spiral, but one I quilted with straight lines. I didn't like how the straight lines were pulling and distorting the stripes in the shirt fabrics, though, so I went back to spirals.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/16950421638" title="Power Nap by Poppyprint by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Power Nap by Poppyprint" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7703/16950421638_cd0f6c483e.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />Our friend, neighbour and investment guru turned 50 last weekend and his wife threw him a great party that we really enjoyed. There were strict instructions for no gifts, but I'd already decided to give him this quilt after discovering he likes to take a power nap at his office most afternoons. That's why I called it Power Nap instead of my original idea of Power Tie. &nbsp;It is always a little nerve-wrecking giving a quilt away, especially to a guy. I took it over the next day in time for him to spend the afternoon on the couch watching the Masters. Luckily he not only loves it, but he also appreciates the time and effort that has gone into it. Win!Poppyprinthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08251892807966340175noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290439243686089081.post-26735128766644912602015-04-13T07:00:00.000-07:002015-04-13T07:00:01.189-07:00A Supertote for SuperknitterEver have that feeling that you're being watched? Ever since my Mom figured out how Instagram works, I've had to clean up my act, haha. When B and I travelled to Italy last fall and my parents stayed here to keep the kids alive, my mom was all like "hey, how can you see pictures of the trip?" to our kids. &nbsp;A few days into our travels, I got a notification on my iphone home screen: <b>SUPERKNITTER is now following you</b>. I instantly knew it was my mom (after all, <i>she</i> <i>is Superknitter</i>) and I laughed. She loves that she can keep an eye on her kids and grandchildren now. It's super cute because she leaves very sweet comments on all of our photos.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/17076819986" title="MG Supertote by Poppyprint by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="MG Supertote by Poppyprint" height="500" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8789/17076819986_d74ca088ab.jpg" width="331" /></a></div><br />I made her a Supertote a few years ago, but because she carries everything and a kitchen sink with her everywhere she goes, a new one was required. She and my dad cruise around in a classic white MG convertible (that she gave him for their 25 wedding anniversary, and in which he drove me down the driveway to my front yard wedding ceremony). &nbsp;They are part of a fun MG club that has organized drives a few times per year to various small towns and car shows. For ages she's been searching for MG-themed fabric and finally someone designed one on Spoonflower!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/16916591749" title="MG Supertote by Poppyprint by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="MG Supertote by Poppyprint" height="331" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8766/16916591749_a8c77fc400.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />Now Superknitter can knit in style at the show 'n shines. Did you know at the big rallies they not only give trophies for cars, but last year she won a crafting award for a gorgeous cross stitch she did of their car (I'll try and get a photo to share)? &nbsp;I used fusible fleece for interfacing this time to give the tote extra body. I also top-stitched and stay-stitched the handles like crazy so they wouldn't rip away from the bag. Those kitchen sinks are heavy!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/16915022718" title="MG Supertote by Poppyprint by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="MG Supertote by Poppyprint" height="331" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8715/16915022718_669147682d.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />I thought I might as well have fun and included the measuring tape fabric so that the tote didn't become too car-ish. After all, it will contain everything from hand quilting to knitting to cross stitch at some point. I used darker linen this time to help keep the bottom of the bag from showing too much dirt as I know it has to travel on the floor of the car at Mom's feet.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/17101300022" title="MG Supertote by Poppyprint by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="MG Supertote by Poppyprint" height="331" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8737/17101300022_4c1aaaa9ca.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I just put elasticized pockets on one side and regular pockets on the other.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;">This is truly a Super Tote and I've been lugging mine everywhere, including to QuiltCon, London and Inuvik! It holds a ton of stuff and is really comfortable to carry. If you'd like to make one, get the pattern from the lovely Anna Graham of Noodlehead&nbsp;<a href="http://www.noodle-head.com/2013/05/super-tote-pattern.html">here</a>.</div>Poppyprinthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08251892807966340175noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290439243686089081.post-38660363725692748262015-04-11T14:48:00.003-07:002015-04-11T14:48:41.624-07:00Three More Exciting Stops!Thanks for everyone following along the <a href="http://www.shopmartingale.com/make-it-take-it.html">Make It, Take It </a>blog tour this week. There have already been a few lucky winners and there are still a few chances for more free copies of the book. <br /><br />I had the good fortune of an invitation to speak to the Whistler Quilt Guild last Tuesday night. I shared a presentation on Modern Quilting, showed several of my quilts as examples and then shared all of the projects from the book. I had a lovely evening with the friendly women of the guild and was thrilled that they gave me a bonus free lift ticket for the next day! &nbsp;It was my first day on the slopes in two seasons and it felt great to feel the quads burn again. &nbsp;Thank you to my friend (and retreat regular) Ellen and her boys for a lovely day and delicious lunch.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/17113205285" title="Spring skiing under Bluebird skies, Whistler, BC by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Spring skiing under Bluebird skies, Whistler, BC" height="500" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8827/17113205285_efa471a456.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />With all those mountain views on my mind and fresh air in my lungs, I forgot to post about the tour stops that day!! Tuesday featured projects from two of the loveliest friends I have through quilting, Leanne and <a href="http://www.felicityquilts.com/2015/04/make-it-take-it-bloghop-with-giveaway.html">Felicity</a>. All of us have had the pleasure of hanging out together in Vancouver last time Leanne came to town on business. In fact, Leanne's trip happily coincided with both of my guild meetings that week so she came along twice! &nbsp;Leanne was also witness to my first real-life encounter with <a href="http://poppyprintcreates.blogspot.ca/2013/07/london-2013-give-me-liberty.html">Liberty of London fabrics IN LONDON </a>(luckily she didn't have to catch me while I *almost* fainted). Read all about Leanne's unique project in the book, Half Moon Needlecase, <a href="http://www.shecanquilt.ca/2015/04/make-it-take-it-blog-hop-and-giveaway.html">here</a>. It combines two of her favourite things: improv and matchstick quilting. While I was in Whistler, Ellen was excited to show me a 1/4 page ad in the latest Fons &amp; Porter magazine featuring this project!!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MUE6N5MxH4U/VSmTqIj0LnI/AAAAAAAAArg/A7uwVtOWttc/s1600/mag%2Bad.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MUE6N5MxH4U/VSmTqIj0LnI/AAAAAAAAArg/A7uwVtOWttc/s1600/mag%2Bad.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><a href="http://www.felicityquilts.com/2015/04/make-it-take-it-bloghop-with-giveaway.html">Felicity</a> is a super fun local quilting pal and the co-president of the <a href="http://www.vancouvermodernquiltguild.com/">Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild</a>. She's an excellent public speaker and very entertaining meeting host! &nbsp;A couple of years ago, while sitting with Felicity at our &nbsp;meeting, I noticed she was busy tacking down a binding on some interesting placemats. I offered to help out and while I was sewing a lightbulb went off. These would be a wonderful retreat project for my book! Her woven strip technique is so great; you could adapt this process to make a quilted base for so many things, like a table runner, tote bag or low-volume background for an applique quilt. &nbsp;It's hard to find a great placemat pattern for a round table, so I'm stoked there is one in Make It, Take It!! I was loving the styling of this picture at the photoshoot (Yes, I devoured those raspberries and, uhm, I may have brought that candy with me for the long drive home from Seattle).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Martingale - Make It, Take It (Print version + eBook bundle)" height="400" src="http://www.shopmartingale.com/images/detailed/60/b1279_11.jpg" width="326" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo: Brent Kane, Martingale Inc, all rights reserved.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Felicity also spent a fun afternoon at my dining table testing the Rainbow 'Round the Cabin group-quilting activity in the book.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Also joining in today is the sweet <a href="http://ayumills.blogspot.pt/">Ayumi of Pink Penguin</a>. &nbsp;I can't remember our initial online meeting but I know it was early on in my blog-following life. I was lucky to discover Ayumi's blog and all of her incredible free tutorials, many of which I've made over the years. She's an extremely generous designer who's aesthetic I admire greatly (check out HER amazing&nbsp;<a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Patchwork-Please-Colorful-Projects-Stitch/dp/1596685999">book</a>) . &nbsp;I have hopeful plans to visit her in Japan one day so that she can be my personal guide at the Tokyo Festival of Quilts. It was no surprise that her projects made the cover of the book (and the cover of Martingale's trade magazine released last November) as they were an instant hit with the staff at Martingale. I think the Big and Little Totes will be made and enjoyed by everyone who has the book. I used Ayumi's very own recently-released<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/ayumills"> Lighthearted fabric </a>(for Kokka) to make my version of the Little Tote. &nbsp;Check out Ayumi's post and enter to win a digital copy of the book <a href="http://ayumills.blogspot.pt/2015/04/make-it-take-it-blog-tour.html">here</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zLgAkKT510k/VSmTqY5L3eI/AAAAAAAAArk/jTcoqmg2Bv8/s1600/little%2Btote.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zLgAkKT510k/VSmTqY5L3eI/AAAAAAAAArk/jTcoqmg2Bv8/s1600/little%2Btote.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Almost there, folks. The tour wraps up tomorrow with <a href="http://sometimescrafter.com/blog/">Christina </a>and <a href="http://ocd-obsessivecraftingdisorder.blogspot.com/">Kristie</a>. Soon it will be your turn to show us all the great projects you've made from the book!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Poppyprinthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08251892807966340175noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290439243686089081.post-52824521029990592512015-04-11T07:00:00.000-07:002015-04-11T07:00:01.881-07:00The Orange Grove Quilt<br />In my <a href="http://poppyprintcreates.blogspot.ca/2015/04/make-it-take-it-blog-hop.html">blog hop kick off post</a>, I wrote about 3 of my projects in <a href="http://www.shopmartingale.com/make-it-take-it.html">Make It, Take It</a>. You can also find more background information on the inspiration behind the book in<a href="http://blog.shopmartingale.com/quilting-sewing/perfect-projects-for-quilt-retreats/"> this post</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UG0cZBJFy_M/VRyuu2ybHLI/AAAAAAAAAqs/Vsptu_bBKfE/s1600/pine%2Btree%2Bblock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UG0cZBJFy_M/VRyuu2ybHLI/AAAAAAAAAqs/Vsptu_bBKfE/s1600/pine%2Btree%2Bblock.jpg" height="308" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />My final project in the book is Orange Grove, a 71" square quilt featuring a modern layout and colouration of the very traditional Pinetree block. This block has long been a favourite of mine and for years I've thought about creating a modern version with bright, colourful pine trees set on point (very different from the typical forest green and brown trees that you see in older versions).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="Martingale - Make It, Take It (Print version + eBook bundle)" src="http://www.shopmartingale.com/images/detailed/60/b1279_13.jpg" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo Brent Kane for Martingale, Inc. All rights reserved.</i></span></div><br />&nbsp;It was long-arm quilted by the amazing&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kristawithersquilting.blogspot.com/">Krista Withers</a>. Her masterful quilting really shines in the negative space of this quilt! &nbsp;In particular, I love how she created quilted 'ghost blocks' between the pieced trees - first by outlining the square with a 1/4" echo frame and then filling each one with a unique design. &nbsp;I was so happy that she included her signature moon motif in the upper right corner. This quilt could be coloured in so many fun ways; it would look amazing in multicoloured shot cottons. &nbsp;I've got a full set of blocks in rainbow colours made by my Stash Trad bee-mates that I look forward to piecing into my second version. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/16903465729" title="Longarm quilting by Krista Withers by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Longarm quilting by Krista Withers" height="331" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7639/16903465729_175fd3a932.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br />In the book, you'll find a tip box describing an exciting retreat activity you can do with these blocks and others. &nbsp;You'll also get to feast your eyes on amazing details shots of<a href="http://www.kristawithersquilting.blogspot.com/"> Krista's</a> quilting, which is truly breathtaking. Seriously, when I hold up this quilt at trunk shows people literally gasp!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluecottage/16469559563" title="Longarm quilting by Krista Withers by Krista Hennebury, on Flickr"><img alt="Longarm quilting by Krista Withers" height="331" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7669/16469559563_d7e6841499.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">AH-MAZING</div><br /><br />Poppyprinthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08251892807966340175noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6290439243686089081.post-84115544601848513352015-04-10T10:06:00.002-07:002015-04-10T10:06:39.195-07:00Selvage and StarsIt's another day on the <a href="http://www.shopmartingale.com/make-it-take-it.html">Make It, Take It</a> blog tour which means more chances to win your own copy of the book! Two more lovely friends and contributors are sharing. Cindy is giving away a digital edition as well as a hard copy. Check out her fun selvage project plus a couple of extra sweet makes from the book <a href="http://www.liveacolorfullife.net/2015/04/make-it-take-it-blog-hop-and-giveaway.html">here.</a>&nbsp; A machine mat is super useful at retreat; not only can it help with vibration on long banquet tables (for those of us that like to sew at turbo speed), it also allows you to quickly slide your machine to one side, clearing table space for cutting &amp; organizing.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Martingale - Make It, Take It (Print version + eBook bundle)" height="400" src="http://www.shopmartingale.com/images/detailed/60/b1279_08.jpg" width="326" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo Brent Kane for Martingale, Inc. All rights reserved.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">I just love the handy vinyl pockets on Cindy's cute machine mat!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Also up today is the prolifically talented Lynne Goldsworthy of Lilysquilts (yup, her name is Lynne, not Lily, however I'm sure she answers to both). &nbsp;Although she lives miles away in the UK, I got to meet her and her family a couple of years ago when I travelled over for the <a href="http://poppyprintcreates.blogspot.ca/2013/08/fqr-good-stuff.html">Fat Quarterly retreat.</a> &nbsp;With four busy teenagers I don't know where she finds the time, but Lynne is a member of the <a href="http://www.fatquarterly.com/">Fat Quarterly team</a>, she supports many publications and fabric manufacturers with her gorgeous traditionally-inspired modern quilt designs and even makes all the quilts herself! &nbsp;I'm so happy she was able to share her Lonestar Circle quilt in the book....beautifully made with luscious <a href="http://www.oakshottfabrics.com/">Oakshott</a> shot cottons.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Martingale - Make It, Take It (Print version + eBook bundle)" height="400" src="http://www.shopmartingale.com/images/detailed/60/b1279_12.jpg" width="326" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: small;">Photo Brent Kane for Martingale, Inc. All rights reserved.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: small;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;">Shame Lynne couldn't be in Seattle for the photo shoot. Instead you get me holding her quilt! One day we'll have to figure out a way to get her over to this side of the Atlantic. &nbsp;I took her quilt with me on a recent trip to the Arctic and took a fun photo for her - have a look at her <a href="http://lilysquilts.blogspot.ca/2015/04/make-it-take-it-book-tour-and-giveaway.html">blogpost</a> and don't forget to leave a comment there to win a digital copy.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If you can read Spanish (or like a quirky translation) then check out this fun post. My book was reviewed by the lovely Alejandra in Mexico! I cannot tell you how much I love the title of her post: <a href="http://mujeres-al-borde.blogspot.mx/2015/02/escapadas-con-amigas.html">Escapadas con Amigas.</a>&nbsp; I love Mexican food and always serve homemade salsa fresca at my day retreats; perhaps I should consider renaming Quilt By the Bay. <i>Escapadas con Amigas </i>sounds like the best day ever! After all, isn't that what retreats are all about? Escaping the laundry and dishes to sew with girlfriends?</div>Poppyprinthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08251892807966340175noreply@blogger.com3